Winterhoff friction pads
Hi all. Me again!
So having managed to tow our little caravan home successfully after purchasing a few weeks ago, today was supposed to be her first outing...to the weighbridge. So in the rain I finally managed to check nose weight and get hitched up (after making almost every basic error possible - I now have a checklist!) and pulled off the drive. Lots of creaking and groaning so got out to check hitched correctly. All seemed fine so set off again. Lots more creaking and groaning so found first safe place to turn round and go back home! (Which was really lucky as then realised I'd forgotten the towing mirrors - now also on my checklist!). So after googling I realise I need to invest in some brake cleaner for the tow ball. I had wiped clean with a cloth before towing and noticed surface oxidation so seems I need to do a more thorough job. But google search also implied I need to use the brake cleaner on the Winterhoff friction pads? So for the complete novice, can you please tell me where I access them and what I need to do? I know they will also need replacing fairly soon. Is this a novice DIY job? If not, does anyone know of a good mobile technician in the Bucks/Berks area please?
Losing my nerve a bit and can see all future holidays being on the drive! The towing I was worried about is easy, its all this other 'stuff' I'm struggling with. On the plus side I did manage to reverse it neatly onto the drive first time :-)
Gratefully, Daisy
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If you think of the hitch as a cup that holds onto the tow ball, then you're wiping the inside of the cup with your brake cleaner. Though the creaking & groaning is a tad annoying, it's not a sign of impending disaster. 😉 Just turn your radio up a bit more. I'm not sure about the Winterhoff hitch, but the pads are easily removed on an Alko hitch so would imagine 5he same for yours. Anything on You Tube?
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Hello , cleaning tow ball is straight forward , any good motor store shop will have brake cleaner usually comes in a spray tin try Halfords if you don't have a local shop .
Give tow ball a good spray & use scotch bright pad to give it a good clean to make it shine , wipe off with a clean cloth & spray again but let it air dry , then put a ball cover on if you have one .....never use oil or grease on tow ball .
Pads may just need a clean in situation , use fine emery paper on them get access to the pads from underneath with small 2" square pieces of emery , give them a light clean then give them a spray with brake cleaner & let them air dry , job done .
Hope that helps 👍
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I have the Winterhoff WS3000 series hitch Daisy, pads are front and back of the cup. Replacements come with instructions but you have to remove the rubber boot that sits over the front part of the hitch, the pads are clipped in so to remove old ones you use a hammer and small punch through holes from the outside (I used a small screwdriver) to destroy the plastic clip on the old ones. Give everything a good clean and clip in the new from inside of the cup.
Probably the written instructions will be clearer than mine
but that's basically it.It is a DIY job, but you may break your finger nails removing the black rubber covering that will expose the clip holes.
I usually stop in the first layby when I realise I have forgotten the mirrors
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Speak for yourself.
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Not in English but the video shows you all you need to know
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Don`t be surprised if cleaning makes little difference or at best for a very limited period. I`ve yet to see a definitive answer as to why some hitches creak and some don`t and why some continue to creak no matter what you do. Since the friction pads are common to the hitch on either Winterhof or Alko that leads me to think the cause is connected with the towball make, specifically the material they are made from and the finish of the towball. Some towballs rust and some don`t so the material is not identical. My last towball Westfalia creaked loudly no matter what I tried whereas the current Bosal has never made a sound.
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Daisy, Our Winterhoff use to squeak so much I was embarrassed when arriving on site especially if the owner was around to direct us.Cleaning of the towball and hitch pads with a small piece of wet and dry and then a quick spray will cure it, I now tend to do it before every trip.
I think it is very unlikely you will need to change the pads, As previously mentioned the pads fit at the front and rear of the hitch - just have a feel with one finger, they are only aound 25mm diameter and surprisingly smooth
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I haven't. But I have broken a breakaway cable, left the hand brake on and forgotten to disengage the mover in the past
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just reading this post got me thinking. ( now my brain hurts ). ok it seems this is a huge problem in the towing world and everyone who has had the problem has cleaned/changed the pads and still got the creaking etc. when my brakes squealed on the car and the pads were nearly new condition I was advised to remove pads and put a small amount of copper grease on the metal back part of the pads and refit to calipers and low and behold the noise never returned. I think it would be worth trying putting a little copper grease on the back side of the pads and refitting, not on the pad contact itself or the tow ball. worth a try. I would do it on mine but haven't got the squeal yet.
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I cant see it will do any good LL1,
The noise from the coupling is a result of the friction between the Ball & Pads. Brake squeal is a result of high frequency vibrations between the moving and static parts of the brakes when under load during application. Copper compounds just act as a insulator between the moving and static parts.
This is why Brake pads used to have a steel shim on the back of them, and various types of spring clips to hold them in place, nowadays it's more common to see new pads with a rubberised/plastic coating applied to the piston face.
My WS3000 does it but soon stops after a few miles,
Daisy3, regards changing the pads. Is the wear indicator still showing a healthy amount of Green on the pop up button when the coupling is locked on the tow ball. If so there is plenty of life left in them.
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"I've not snapped a break-away cable"
Happened when putting the caravan back in storage.
My excuse is OH asking me what we needed to take home while i was uncoupling and trying to keep an eye on two dogs with muddy feet in case they went in to the caravan.
It did make a big bang though as I pulled the car forward a couple of feet. Fitted a Hi-Vis one now so hopefully won't do it again
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Hi
Has anyone found a video of how to actually change the friction pads?
There's a few diagrams on the Winterhoff site but they aren't comprehensive by any means.
Doesn't even show how to remove the rubber nose cover.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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