Changing the Alko Front & Rear Friction Pads
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- On our last trip away when we arrived on site, and unhitched the Caravan from the car, a small bit of what looked like plastic fell out. It turns out that this was part of the front ALKO Friction pad. in this Vlog I show you how to change the front & rear pads. Thanks for watching & Happy Camping.
Friction Pads
www.leisureshopdirect.com/car...
Please feel free to comment,
If you would like to send us a message you can email us at thebrowns@caravanescapades.co.uk
Also come along and join our friendly Facebook group.
Caravan Escapades FB Page
/ 38809. .
![Alko Friction Lining repair 2019 [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ruxzwVYutkQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Alko Friction Lining repair 2019 [CC]](/img/tr.png)
Good video you made it easy to follow, thanks
Thank You Glad it helped
Thanks for a very interesting video. I'm in the process of replacing the pads on my hitch, also after an unexplained breakage of the top pad. The first evidence of a problem was that the hitch didn't want to separate from the tow ball. Once I managed to separate it, the broken top pad fell out. I don't recall any event that might have led to it being damaged, but the van was pre-owned when we acquired it recently. I suspect it might have been cracked for a while, so I'll be visually inspecting the pads more regularly now for signs of cracking/wear.
You mentioned accessing the rear pad through the hole in the front of the hitch once the top pad is removed, which I think is much easier. As you said, you just need a Torx screwdriver rather than a socket wrench. Thanks again for the video.
Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. Ibam, glad the vlog was of help. I am thinking of doing one again with some close-up footage inside the hitch as I think that will help. Happy Camping. James
Hi John, mine went on our 3-year old van just a couple of weeks after the service. I think it's probably just "one of those things". Planning to do the repair tomorrow - bookmarked this vid as a sanity check!
Good morning James, thank you for the video! Take care and stay safe 👍😎🇬🇧.
Thanks Wayne you to Happy Camping. James
Hi James Very good video, very informative and nice to see real time repairs. Thank you.
Thanks Keith very much appreciated. Happy Camping James
Just the video I needed, after being rescued from a racing event and having the caravan towed out by a tractor, the front pad cracked on us too... :-(
Hi Michael, thanks for letting me know, Its great that I was able to help. I think its worth getting a spare pair of friction pads and carrying them in the Caravan should it happen again. I was lucky this time that there was a dealer not to far away, Thanks for watching and Happy Camping, James
Hi James, Interesting seeing the pad set being changed. I’ve had creaking from the hitch on a few occasions. I spoke to Alko at the NEC show in 2019 and they said use brake cleaner to remove the glaze from the pads so I did and it worked. I also purchased a new set of side pads but haven’t had the need to change them as yet. Thanks for the helpful video. Cheers, Rob
Thanks Rob, the break Cleaner is a good tip, I do carry a small can in the car and always give it a quick spray in the Hitch & on the ball before connection. Thanks for watching & Happy Camping, James
Thanks a lot I’ll be sure and get a spare set from now on. I’m new to caravaning so I’ve still got a lot to learn. Thanks again for all your great info. By the way I sat down and watched all the French episodes last night and thoroughly enjoyed them. Cheers 👍
Hi Clive, thanks for watching and sorry you had to endure the the complete series for French Vlogs 😁. I am glad we have managed to be of some help. Fur sure it is worth carrying a spare set of Friction Pads, even if it is an old set. I think we are always learning when it comes to Caravaning, The great thing is there are plenty of people in the community willing to help. Thanks again for watching and happy camping. James
Thanks James, a really helpful video, I would have probably got some new pads, but then wouldn’t have the right tools for the job, but now I know what I need, thanks again 👍.
Hi Buster Boy, Thanks for watching and commenting, I am really glad it has helped. Happy Camping James
@@CaravanEscapades101 Been to the storage yard today and checked the pads side pads all glazed over, Graham the caravan vlogger had a great tip, put the pad in a drill and whilst it’s spinning apply some wet and dry paper with a spray of brake cleaner, they come up a treat, then I cleaned the front and back pads whilst they were still in the hitch, thanks again for your video James. 👍.
@@busterboy7505 Hi, great tip from The Caravan Vlogger, I watched him do it on his French Trip. Glad you got sorted. James
Hello James, Good idea to carry a spare set of pads. We are in France 🇫🇷 at the moment on our way South just to let you know know the door magnet pad you sent me is working fantastic no more pulling and tugging the door to close it now . Trevor & Karen 😁😎👍
Thanks Trev for letting me know about the Magnet Disc. Very envious about you in France we will be back there next year. Have fun and Happy Camping. James
Very helpful just replaced my pads after watching your very helpful video clip .
Thanks, Ben. I am hoping to video it again when I change the pads next and hope to add a bit of close-up footage to give more context to the vlog. Thanks for watching, and happy camping. James
Hi James great video mate as usual. Hope I never have to do that job. Small fingers are a must anyway glad you got it done. Happy Camping bud 😎👍 Cheers Paul and Sarah
Thanks Paul. Trouble is I made it look fiddly it's not to bad and if I had swiveled the hitch around it would have been easier lol. Thanks for watching. James
Hi James great video very informative as usual buying a spare set I think is a good idea 👍 😀
Thanks Ken. Yes trouble is by the time I have bought all the spares I think I will need I will probably have another caravan. Lol. Happy Camping James
I would have learned more if the camera had shown what you were actually doing.
Agrees this was in the early stage of Vloghing and happened while I was away. The Vlog could have been a lot better and I intend to revisit it in the future and do a more Visual one. Happy Camping James
Thanks for the video and it's the information I am looking for. Your video was good and I now know it's a possible DIY, though if I may make a constructive suggestion, that you either change the angle of the video during the installation or take some photos during and slide them in the editing of the video to further demonstrate where each pad goes and how. Just trying to help to provide feedback for future videos. Thanks
Hi thanks for commenting and glad it helps. I agree I should have added more visuals in to give those watching more information. Very much appreciated thanks again and happy Camping. James
Thanks James - really handy and timely vlog. Been reading a lot of FB posts from caravanners with new/recent vans experiencing friction pad failures. Makes me wonder about the materials they're making them from or how long some of these pads have been lying around prior to installation. Useful and helpful vid. Cheers. George and Trish CaravanningMacs
Thank you glad it helped and thanks for commenting, Happy Camping James
Hi, Just Bought a New Coachman And The Alco Pads Are Creeking Away Already, Wouldent Have Expected This From A new Caravan, Tow Ball is Clean and Paint Free, Also A couple of Other little Niggles So Will Mention This When We Take It In..
Hi thanks for commenting that's not good to hear, Have you checked inside the Tow Hitch as the pads might have been contaminated before you got the caravan, Moving it around the Dealers Etc. You can clean them using brake cleaner etc. The Caravan Vlogger also did a good vlog on cleaning the pads up. th-cam.com/video/ITmljD08Oos/w-d-xo.html hope that helps. James
@@CaravanEscapades101 Thanks James, Brake Cleaner Sounds Good, will give it a Go..👍
Great vid mate I will be doing this job on mine as soo. As I collect it, and what is the hitch lock you use I have to get one soon
Hi Andrew, Thank you, if you can get a long screwdriver to go through the hole at the front of the hitch you can do up the rear pad a lot easier. Thanks again for watching. James
If they break while away and you can't get the parts then can you still tow without these pads?
Its Not Advisable, as they stabiliser function will not work as it should. I always carry a spare set now as I had to go out and buy a set when it happened.
Just come across this video. Wonder if you could tell me the socket set you use as it looks very comprehensive.
Hi, Thanks for watching, I got it from Aldi or Lidl I can't remember which one, but thought it would be an ideal little kit for the Caravan
Interesting video but isn't the access for the rear fixing meant to be via the hole for the front pad? . Probably make it a lot easier. Rear pad first, then front pads
Hi Stewart, You are correct and I should have referenced this in the Vlog, As I was away when I needed to replace them, I only had a small socket set and with the screwdriver attachment on it would not fit through the hole, I also think that I could have rotated the hitch to face upwards as well which probably would have made it easier to. Thanks for watching and commenting, Happy Camping, James
It's a job I need to do so your video was most helpful
@@stewartmacpherson3230 glad I could help. James
Surely you had some scissors in your van and 😁
Lol 😆 yes we had at least 3 pairs in the draw, I just never thought to get them. Thanks for watching and Happy Camping. James
@@CaravanEscapades101 same to you joking aside my side pads need replacing can you recommend cheap suppliers tia
@@rogerg3321 Hi, to be fair they all seem to be around the same price. Amazon or leisure shop direct online. Hope that helps. James
i can't see what you are doing !
Hi, Thanks for commenting, this was a vlog from the early days and I was trying to do this while I was away. I plan to revisit this vlog and do a more visual step-by-step version.
@@CaravanEscapades101 ok thank you
Can’t see what you’re doing. Camera is in the wrong place. Video useless.
Hello Peter, thank you for your comments, agree the camera could be better positioned. When, I come to change them next time, I will do a new vlog and make it clearer. Thanks for watching and happy camping., James
Thought it was decent enough, it's not like he was changing the gearbox on a F1 car.
Always someone who's a hater
@@TheAjc999 thank you Adrian.