towed our 1996 avondale perle for the first time and noticed at low speed(below 10mph) a squeaking noise that sounded like a brake shoe binding slightly. the van could be pushed by hand etc.
i jacked it up and the right hand wheel wouldnt turn by hand where as the left would. Took the wheel off and turned the adjuster a click or 2 and it freed up. but then once the brake was on and let off again it was stuck. if i pull the cable where it comes out the back of the drum, upwards slightly a few times it releases the brake. ive sprayed the inside of the drum with brake cleaner and now with the wheel on it can be turned by hand but still feels like a bit of resistance there, is there anything else i could try, a new cable maybe?
It sounds like it needs a proper service on the running gear, brake linings could be worn out or anything really. If it has one shot hub nuts then you need large torque wrench to retighten the new nuts you need to fit after you have removed hubs to service brakes. If you can't diy then caravan workshop charges about £85 for chassis service.
yeah will be a alko chassis, some hub nuts are one shot, others are splitpinned. if it is a split pin then you tighten the nut, pop on the wheel and adjust until there is a bit of play. cant remember the torque setting for the one shot but it should be on alko's website. isnt anything like BPW settings
a snapped return spring is possible but my instinct is on rusty cables
the brake now seems to be locking on when i apply the handbrake and releasing when i let it off and i now have no squeak, but on the compensater its now not completely level the side that was sticking when the handbrakes off has some slack in it can the nut be adjusted on it to tension it a little?
if you dont have the skills to do the job yourself then you have to get a pro to do it or at least someone that knows their stuff. Murphy's law dictates that you will have a problem in the worst place in the pouring rain