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Subject Topic: Alko stabiliser creaking Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonDavidxyz
29/6/2010 at 10:40pm
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit: Abi Sprinter View Davidxyz's Profile View Profile   Reply to Davidxyz Reply   Quote Davidxyz Quote  
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Hi,

I've noticed a lot of creaking recently from the alko stabiliser fitted to our caravan.

I replaced the friction pads but that made no difference.

The towball itself seems ok - I did make the rookie error of not removing the paint before using it, but the paint is now long gone and it is bare metal and looks ok, although it has got some scratches on it. I've sanded it a bit with wet and dry paper and cleaned it with brake cleaner.

Has anybody got any other suggestions, apart from turning the radio up when towing!!

Thanks for looking.


Personmichael
30/6/2010 at 10:49am
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
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Hot Topic (no new replies) Does your stabiliser creak and groan?


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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


PersonSteve#wanderer
07/7/2010 at 11:58pm
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit: Lunar Quasar524 View Steve#wanderer's Profile View Profile   Reply to Steve#wanderer Reply   Quote Steve#wanderer Quote  
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I Know this sounds daft, but the ball  may be too smooth, score it  with rough emery to give the pads something to key on

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one life live it.
you can go fast I can go anywhere


Personmichael
08/7/2010 at 10:44am
 Location: Lancashire
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Quote: Originally posted by Steve,wanderer on 07/7/2010
I Know this sounds daft, but the ball  may be too smooth, score it  with rough emery to give the pads something to key on
no sorry to say you are wrong in your posting.the pads are smooth and grip onto the smooth ball really tight,if you rough up the ball it will damage your pads at great expense.the same as your brakes work when pushed onto the drum or disc.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


PersonGongoozler
20/8/2010 at 9:57am
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Mondeo 2TDCi Abbey Freestyle 470 View Gongoozler's Profile View Profile   Reply to Gongoozler Reply   Quote Gongoozler Quote  
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Try thoroughly cleaning the pads with motorcycle brake cleaner. I used Muc-Off Disc Brake Cleaner from Halfords. Spray some over the pads and rub the pads clean with kitchen roll paper. Repeat this until the paper comes away clean. In my experience this will significantly reduce the creaking noise, but probably not totally eliminate it.


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PersonCandP
20/8/2010 at 12:06pm
 Location: North West
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 554 View CandP's Profile View Profile   Reply to CandP Reply   Quote CandP Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by michael on 08/7/2010
Quote: Originally posted by Steve,wanderer on 07/7/2010
I Know this sounds daft, but the ball  may be too smooth, score it  with rough emery to give the pads something to key on
no sorry to say you are wrong in your posting.the pads are smooth and grip onto the smooth ball really tight,if you rough up the ball it will damage your pads at great expense.the same as your brakes work when pushed onto the drum or disc.

I dont mean to be rude, but I disagree with you and agree with Steve. The pads are not smooth they are rough. If they were smooth they would not be a friction material.
That's why when you wear your pads down on the car to the metal they do not work.

What happens when you wear smooth shoes on ice/snow you slip. When you wear a pair of boots you don't slip, that is because you boots have something to "key" against.

I light roughage of the tow ball will no no harm, just make sure you don't wear away too much.

You also say you have changed the pads, have you changed all 4 pads?


Personlinpet
20/8/2010 at 2:36pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Adria Astella Amazon VW Touareg 3.0l View linpet's Profile View Profile   Reply to linpet Reply   Quote linpet Quote  
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Don't make life difficult for yourself. Follow the simple method of 'clean is good'. Give the pads a thorough cleaning with brake cleaner and use a micro cloth instead of kitchen towel, that way no paper residue will stick to the pads. Also clean the ball off before each coupling up, even when packing up to come home. I would suggest that if you are going to rub the towball with anything that you use fine emery cloth and nothing more abrasive than that, the coupling and the ball are all that keeps your outfit together, treat them with the utmost care and respect.

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Oh well, back to Spain!


Personjohnks
20/8/2010 at 4:35pm
 Location: Hampshire
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Confused here. When I had my new car I cleaned off all the paint and now my towball is smooth and the new pads when I ordered them were also smooth.

I do not get a single groan from the hitch at all. In fact it is the best I have ever had and have covered over 3000 miles with it.

The smoother the better as it is the friction that enable the hitch to act as a damper.



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John


Personcorpogreen
21/8/2010 at 11:12am
 Location: nottingham
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If you have fitted all 4 of the pads give them time to bed in. It may be that they are not 100% in contact with your tow ball as yet.

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      Corpogreen esq
          dead horse
               and
       donkey buyer
    
      
      


Personhamster181
30/8/2010 at 10:17pm
 Location: lanarkshire
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I also had this problem with my alko stabiliser. Spoke to the guy who fitted my towbar. He told me to give the pads a rub down with fine emery paper and clean off with white spirit. Worked a treat, not had a creak from the stabiliser since.


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Personmillermicm
31/8/2010 at 9:05am
 Location: west country
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Every friction pad I have ever seen is smooth - be it a stabilizer, brake pad, clutch, etc.


PersonSuzac
10/3/2011 at 6:04pm
 Location: Devon
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We had a very noticeable creaking on our Alko stabiliser for some time despite my attempt at cleaning the friction pads. When the van was taken in for annual service in January I mentioned it to the service reception. He said that behind the coupling there are a couple of nuts/bolts which sometimes are not fully tightened and which can cause a creaking problem. Not sure if he meant the two nuts/bolts which actually secure the coupling or others further back the A-frame. Anyway the service engineer removed and checked the pads and there was still plenty of wear on them and also assumed he torqued the nuts in question. The creaking has stopped since I collected the van. So if anyone also has a problem it might be worth checking your nuts. 

Post last edited on 10/03/2011 20:51:51

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Mother Nature always wins in the end.


Personjeff juke
10/3/2011 at 8:10pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Suzac on 10/3/2011
So if anyone also has a problem it might be worth checking your nuts. 

Pardon..

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Animals have feelings..

JEFF................



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