Caravan brakes
last week after a weekend away I returned my 2016 Swift Corniche caravan to the secure storage site we use and realised that I had left the remote for the motor mover on the car bumper! That was a £115 lesson.
due to a knee injury I was unable to push it back into place myself so enlisted the help of my son.
As we pushed the van back in to place I applied the hand brake but nothing happened. Fortunately my lad is quite strong and we managed to hold it in place til the legs were dropped.
I had noticed that whilst towing that when I braked that there was some banging as the van was not braking despite being serviced in June.
does anyone have experience of this and why it may have happened?
should brake pads wear within a year and half?
regards
andy
Comments
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Beneath is an extract from an Alko document. It is normal for a caravan with the overrun braking system to roll backwards some distance after reversing into place and applying hand brake.
'It must be noted that when the handbrake is
applied, the vehicle may roll approximately
25 cm (10 inches) backwards before the
parking brake force is used to it’s fullest Extent.'Link here: http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/handbooks/overrun-braking-system-handbook.pdf
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Hello Monkey104 and EasyT,
I have forwarded this discussion onto our Technical Team who will get back to you with regard to the banging when you brake.
The Technical Manager is not in today but that team will post on here once they have an answer for you.
It may mean that by then, our expert Members will advise you as to the cause of the noise.
Thanks so much for your patience and I hope you both have a good day.
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The brakes on caravans wear very slowly. After 1 year or 2 years there should be no noticeable wear. Some bedding in and stretch can occur but this should not be noticeable either. If you've got a delayed banging from the over-run then it probably needs adjusting. Its unlikely to have developed since June. If you speak to your dealer they will probably ask you to take the van in for inspection, and as adjustment is only a quick job I would ask for a "while you wait" service to save travel time.
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EasyT's reply is only applicable to a caravan that's been reversed. Caravan's brake shoes are designed to collapse to enable caravans to reverse, you used to have engage a lever to prevent the hitch compressing to allow a caravan to be reversed. If your handbrake isn't having any effect then there's a fault.
It's easy done leaving the mover remote on the A frame ..... apparently 😉
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Well there should not be any banging when braking. I assume that your towbar is secure and also the tow ball torqued up. Certainly would not expect it to be wear on brake shoes at that age Doubt that you have towed over 20k miles.
Usual suspect is the over ride damper. Should not be at that age however.
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MM is relating it to be attached to a vehicle. they were pushing it by hand....
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I normally use the mover to reverse in to the bay as there is not enough room for car and caravan.
As I had, cough cough, misplaced the remote we were actually pushing it. as it lined up I applied the hand brake which didn't work at all.
I have just been back down and moved the van out on the mover ( new remote bought
). Although it will not move forward on the brake it will freewheel in reverse with the brake still on which caused a hairy moment. This was over about 3 feet.the towbar is secure and there is no movement between bar and ball.
its booked in for tomorrow for them to have a look .
i will keep you updated.
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If the caravan has been reversed,collapsing the brake shoes to allow free rolling, the hand brake lever travel becomes much longer. Both my Alko and current BPW chassis Did/do this.
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The caravan was only pushed, by hand, half its length before we realised that the brakes didn't work.
it has since had been moved forward on the mover, the handbrake on and off numerous times, pushed forward and backwards. I have even tried to move it forward with the mover while brake was on, it didn't budge. As soon as I released the mover wheels with the brake still on it started to trundle backwards towards the rear fence which was a heart stopping moment!
i am leaving it to the professionals from now on!
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Hi Andy
I would really like to speak to you about your problem, could you please phone the Technical Team 01342 336611 and ask for Eileen.
Many thanks.
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Update.
I dropped the caravan off at Robinsons, Chesterfield this morning who quickly confirmed that there was an issue with the brakes. Something I had not noticed until the technician showed me on one of their caravans was that when applied, the handbrake violently shot straight up in to a 90 degree position as opposed to smoothly in to a 45 degree position.
That, apparently should not happen.
What else was apparent was that although the caravan would not go straight forward with the brake on, it could be swung around to the left!
The issues with the van banging in to the back of the car arise from the brakes not working as a visual of the damper proved to be ok.
Thank you all for your help and advise and could I also especially thank Eileen at the CAMC technical team for her help and advice.
Regards
Andy
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An update and a cautionary tale of woe.
it would appear that at some stage I have towed the caravan with the brakes on!
This in turn has worn the discs on one side down to the metal which in turn has scored the drum. The resulting friction has cooked the grease in the bearing.
The discs on the opposite side have worn almost to the metal. Both drums have suffered excess heat as indicated by white discolouration on the metal on the outside of the drum.
All this was confirmed by Alko who believe that I may have not noticed the brakes were on due to the weight of my towing vehicle. ( 3.l Jeep Grand Cherokee ).
Both drums, discs and the bearings on one side have been replaced and I could feel the difference immediately as I started towing.
Fortunately no real damage was done, apart from my wallet, and I have learned a very expensive lesson.
I was only saying to my wife recently that I should have removed the check list that was laminated to the front window of our old caravan.
I am now in the process of writing out another!
Thanks for all your help and advice.
Happy, safe camping all.
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