Al-KO 3004 stabliser - front and rear pads worn?

MartinL
MartinL Forum Participant Posts: 23
edited June 2016 in Caravans #1

My 2007 Sterling Eccles caravan has an Al-Ko 3004 stabliser hitch.  This has 4 pads. Two on the side, one front and one rear.  I do not belive the front and rear pads have ever been changed.  There is a wear indicator for these just in front of the lock
handle. This has a green and red section.  The manual states the pads require changing if there is no green showing.  In my case there is only about 1.5mm of green showing.  

The stabliser has creaked on corners the last two trips despite cleaning the pads and towball thouraly. The towball is only 1 year old and over 49.8mm diameter.

I am wondering if the indicator should show a lot more of the green section.  Does anyone have experience of this please?   I have details on how to change these pads if necessary..  Many thanks.  Martin

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #2

    I thought the same as you re the amount of green showing on the front/rear wear indicator. New pads made next to sod all difference. 

  • MartinL
    MartinL Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited June 2016 #3

    Thanks,  I wonder if anyone else has similar experience.  I dont want to change the front and rear pads unecessarily.

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited June 2016 #4

    The wear indicator consists of graduated marks on the side arms and an indicator on the hitch head.When the ball is in place in the hitch (ie small handle down and green showing on the indicator)as you push the stabaliser arms down,the point at which you
    begin to feel resistance should be in the early area of the graduated mark.and with the stabaliser fully engaged should be before the end of the marks.Sorry it is difficult to explain,Alko might have a better guide on their website.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #5

    I changed the side pads on ours, but just took out the front and rear pads (it's a bit of a fiddle!) and gave them a good rub down and a clean.

    Our service engineer said that the front and rear pads rarely need changing. Changing the side pads made a huge difference to the amount of pressure needed to push down the lever.

  • MartinL
    MartinL Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited June 2016 #6

    Thanks DSweetman and IanH.   

    DSweetman your description refers to the wear indicator for the side pads.  The wear indicator for the front and rear pads comprises a gren and red plastic quadrant inset to the bottom of the small release arm.

    My side pads are only 3 years old and their wear indicator shows they are in good condition. I need a lot of pressure to close the main stabliser arm,  

    I will have a go at wiping over all 4 pads with fine wet & dry paper in case there is contamination that is not been removed by the isopropyl achohol that may be causing the creaking.  I do note that even though I clean the pads and towball quite a bit of
    black substance is removed by the cleaner when repeating the cleaning excercise after towing.

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