Alko Brake Problems

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  • StevieF
    StevieF Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited June 2019 #32

    Lunar Clubman 2017 in for service to be told of similar problem.  Brake drums worn and need new hubs as well. Hopefully under warranty! But supplier is out of stock?  I wonder why?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #33

    Well that fix didn't last long. 

    We are on a 7 week trip, arrived in Zeebrugge on 6th May. By the time we got to our site that night the brakes were once again squealing. Thought we would give it a while to see how it goes before contacting dealer again. Its not stopped so call to dealer made, decision taken to change brakes under warranty.

    Sorry Merve but its a Coachman we have, hope your new one is trouble free.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited June 2019 #34

    second trip in swift elegance 650 TA and brakes squealing. less than 200 miles covered. dealer states could be end august as shortage in country.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited June 2019 #35

    We`ve just come back from Spain after about 1300` following replacement brake shoes in April (2018 Lunar Clubman) and have`nt had any problems very very occasionally get the odd squeak but definitely not squealing.

  • viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited June 2019 #36

    My mod with grooves only lasted 200 miles, new brake shoes fitted, I am told Alko have now reverted to original manufacturer! We shall see.

    I was amazed how much wear and dust was generated in the 200 miles.

  • bluerocket5
    bluerocket5 Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited June 2019 #37

    Alko brake shoes 

    It's not just me then? I have an Eldiss Affinity 462 bought in March 2018 

    Upto 1st service in March 2019 no problems since then brakes squealing and very hot drums after 5 mile trip  Took van into same workshop they cleaned adjusted brakes, another short trip out to local CL and same problem 

    seriously worried about upcoming trip to Ireland with possible defective brakes especially if dealer cant get relevant parts from Alko prior to my trip in July 

  • viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited June 2019 #38

    Nope not just you, all vans on Alko (UK??) chassis since about mid 2017. Has this been publicised? No all kept under wraps by manufacturers, clubs etc.Should be a recall,  Like the axle problem.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited June 2019 #39

    think you've got more chance of plaiting fog than getting a recall or any response from the clubs or even the NCC.

  • viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited June 2019 #40

    Why should caravans be treated differently to cars? If 30,000 cars had substandard friction material fitted from new I suspect that there would be a recall. I've informed DVSA of the 4 sets of brakes I've had fitted over the last 800 miles, frankly it a ridiculous situation a cheaper source of brake shoes with no apparent testing or quality control on a safety critical item. Let the customer do the testing, beggars belief.

    Ok as an individual admittedly  I have no chance.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #41

    all clubs could/should help members with these problems and would be so easy to set up. we all get e-mails for offers from the club for sites/shows/goods etc so why can they not send one out for us to sign and send to the NCC and manufacturers and also DVLA, they send out surveys so very easy to do.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #42

    What, bite the hand that feeds them?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #43

    We had same mod, think we got about 400 miles out of it yell

  • ClubMember7BA45D516F
    ClubMember7BA45D516F Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited June 2019 #44

    Same problems, now fixed by the dealer eventually  replacing the drums and shoes. The dealer confessed that Al-Ko had sourced drums and shoes from another supplier which turned out to be inferior. Al-Ko insist on a three stage process (3 visits to the dealership) before the dealer was allowed to replace everything. 

  • Somersetlad
    Somersetlad Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2019 #45

    It is somewhat disturbing to read all of the problems associated to Alko brakes.I have a Bailey Unicorn Cadiz purchased April 2018 and on its first service the engineer has found  both sides brake linings to have disintegrated and scored the brake drums on both.Approx 1000 miles usage.

    Well over a month has gone by since the engineer reported the fault to Alko and despite their acknowledgement the system would be replaced under warranty, no parts to date. Excuse is that unprecedented demand has overwhelmed both their system and parts supply.

    As we are now entering the premium caravan season and I had planned to visit the Loire in France, I am unable to make any reservations on the ferry or French sites with no visibility as to replacement parts being available.This situation is totally unacceptable and with the previous links on this forum indicating a serious problem over a period of time, what are Alko doing about it???

    Why have main dealers not been informed of this ongoing problem so that onward communication to owners could at least allay some of the frustrations currently experienced.

    The cost of a recall I would submit has driven Alko into a defensive stance rather than face the reality of the distress they are causing caravan owners and therefore treating each complaint in a piecemeal fashion.

    When will it be rectified???

     

  • mitch1900
    mitch1900 Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited July 2019 #46

    I have similar problem with my 2017 Coachman Pastiche that was brought to my attention by my dealer at the vans second service in April.

    New shoes and drums were ordered but have not yet materialised,e-mails to both-dealer and  Alko have not resulted in any change.Having just returned from Dorset to Lancashire the “Squeak” is grown to a screeching scream.

    I have contacted my dealer but have not received any positive reply.

    Has anyone any Ideas?

  • Oscarmax
    Oscarmax Club Member Posts: 257 ✭✭✭
    100 Comments
    edited July 2019 #47

    Please let me join the list our Swift Conqueror 480 drum and shoes deeply scorned not bad for less than 2000 miles ?

  • johnosh
    johnosh Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited July 2019 #48

    This situation is absolutely appalling! Can you imagine what would happen if this was a car industry problem? 'Watchdog' and the whole consumer movement would be down on it like a ton of bricks demanding Alko issue a recall. How long will it be before someone has an accident as a result of these clearly faulty brakes? Is there an industry body we can turn to?

    Personally, I was lucky that my dealer responded quickly and positively and got my brakes fixed FOC without quibble. I hope all other 'victims' are dealt with equally efficiently and fairly. Good luck.

  • viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited July 2019 #49

    check Alko axle problem thread also a lot of info on brakes

  • mitch1900
    mitch1900 Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited July 2019 #50

    Update on my post regarding AlKo brake squeal.

    My dealer tells me that AlKo have requested copies of claim forms ,photo of Axle number I’d plate.

    Alko  haven’t replied to my e mail and my dealer is waiting for many more warranty claims from AlKo.

    I’ve now e mailed Coachman to see if they can speed up my claim.

    The squeal is so bad it’s embarrassing to take the van out!

    I’ll keep you posted. (Thats if I live long enough)

     

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #51

    mitch 1900, we have just been through this process and it took all of 2 weeks from telling the dealer that we had the problem back (previously had a 'fix' done)  to the van going in and getting new brake pads put on. 

    We didn't correspond with Alko or Coachman, our dealer did all the work all we had to do is supply the photo of the axle plate for verification.  

  • mitch1900
    mitch1900 Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited August 2019 #52

    Hi and thank you for your comments, obviously your dealer must have a better relationship with AlKo than mine.

    I’m seriously considering going to another dealer further away when exchanging my caravan although I’ve bought 3 new caravans from my local Coachman dealer!

    I'm tempted to name my dealer but it may make matters worse!

  • VONWEN
    VONWEN Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited October 2019 #53

    Been to book our Swift in for first service today and mentioned the squeeling brakes that we have had since day one. Was told by my dealer that it is up to me to provide a phone video recording from inside the tow vehicle clearly showing the noisy brakes on our van. Alko apparently will not change or authorise any warranty work without proof.

    Is this just my dealer trying to get me to do their work for them?

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #54

    Just had the pads on my Coachman changed under warranty.  I didn’t have to provide any proof, after all the dealer can hear you coming.  

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2019 #55

    We've had the brake shoes replaced on our Coachman caravan in August.

    At that time the dealer asked us to take a photo of the axle plate as Alko had asked for the plate details. It would appear that from that plate Alko knows which type of brakes the caravan was fitted with (there was a number of caravans fitted with inferior brake shoes)

    Sadly the new brake shoes (supposedly the good ones) have only lasted about 400 mls before they started making a noise again.

    Our dealer has informed us that Alko are now insisting on a photo of the brake shoes and drums + the plate again before allowing warranty work to be done.

    I believe that the drums on some vans were badly scored by the inferior shoes and as such they will need to have the drum and shoes replaced. 

  • mitch1900
    mitch1900 Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited October 2019 #56

    I finally have had a satisfactory ending to my brake problems as my dealer has now fitted new drums as well as new shoes.The effect is a quiet caravan again.

    However it took e mails to AlKo ,Coachman, and NCC before I got a satisfactory result from AlKo.They claimed they hadn’t received the initial correspondence from my dealer ,who, after my contacting them re-sent the appropriate information.

    As a result AlKo informed me the date that the replacements parts were sent to the dealer who in turn fitted the same.

    My dealer blames AlKo , AlKo blames the dealer.

    My advice is keep phoning and e mailing!

     

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