I put grease on tow hitch last year and contaminated to pads, cleaned up but a fair bit of knocking, noise etc.
Do I need to replace for safety or will it still do its job in it's current state?
Any tips on cleaning, I think I did read here last year better to replace, but going away weekend and its one of those jobs I never got around to doing!
Thanks
------------- 2015:
Easter Weekend - Northern Farm Burnham
March/April - Dolgamedd Wales (Tent)
May: Paris/DLP
June - Twilite Leisure Park
July - Germany Black Forest
August - UK
New Vango Orchy 500 to try STILL! STILL!
You do not necessarily need to replace the pads for safety reasons. Provded the green button is showing then the ball should be locked in.
However the pads will now be useless at doing the job they were designed for and should be replaced.
DIY instructions are on the Al-Ko website.
Having said that, I would get it sorted before I went away.
Daves1
Thanks guys, have cleaned them well, test them this weekend, if still carries on I will replace.
------------- 2015:
Easter Weekend - Northern Farm Burnham
March/April - Dolgamedd Wales (Tent)
May: Paris/DLP
June - Twilite Leisure Park
July - Germany Black Forest
August - UK
New Vango Orchy 500 to try STILL! STILL!
If you fit a chrome vanadem ball or stainless steel none magnetic type with plastic cover your ball should not get rusty or dirt comtaminated when not in use.Try Holts proffessional brake cleaner same type material or similar in hitch as car disc brakes.
After a good clean, it was perfect all the way there, started groaning the last hour 60 miles or so. So as others say seems to be 250 miles then a good clean.
Thanks all.
------------- 2015:
Easter Weekend - Northern Farm Burnham
March/April - Dolgamedd Wales (Tent)
May: Paris/DLP
June - Twilite Leisure Park
July - Germany Black Forest
August - UK
New Vango Orchy 500 to try STILL! STILL!
Quote: Originally posted by naturlist123 on 17/4/2014If you fit a chrome vanadem ball or stainless steel none magnetic type with plastic cover your ball should not get rusty or dirt comtaminated when not in use.Try Holts proffessional brake cleaner same type material or similar in hitch as car disc brakes.
Any contaminated pads can easily be cleaned, they are a very hard plastic type material, with an indentation to fit around the ball.
The friction pads are not made from plastic, they are made from steel with a friction lining bonded to them exactly the same as clutch and brake linings are. Once the linings become contaminated by any type of lubricant they will not grip the towball so respectively are not fit for purpose. If the friction pads get contaminated they need to be replaced with new ones.
Not on mine they are not, I also have a new set and they are the same,
They even have numbers moulded in the face edge as per attached link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Alko-AKS-2004-3004-Series-Caravan-Stabiliser-Side-Friction-Pad-Set-/161285676953
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Topic: Alko Hitch noises replace?
