Removing the towing squeak from our caravan hitch

Our hitch has recently become very noisy when towing, despite keeping everything clean. So, in this video I inspect the friction pads further and remove the noise from the caravan hitch.
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Things used in this video:
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ℹ️ We earn a small commission from qualifying purchases through the Amazon Associate links below. It costs you no extra and it really helps us invest into our channel.
➡️ Wet & Dry selection pack : amzn.to/3PidG83
➡️ Brake disc cleaner : amzn.to/3ZcTQ2R
➡️ Drill (Used for corner steadies) : amzn.to/45VmLuY
➡️ Replacement Friction pads for Alko AKS 2000 2004 3004 3504
hitch : amzn.to/3Zk73Xx

[@LizKidd]

Thanks Dan, had exactly the same problem, now sorted thanks to your video. Cheers.

[@CaravanningAdventures]

Thanks Dan. We have a newish caravan and I have never known such a loud squeak. Getting on the ferry at Dover recently it really shows up on the video. I tried your tip and now no noise. Peace at last.

[@robjones2060]

Thanks Dan, ours has been driving me mad recently, sounds like the caravan is about to come away from the car despite my cleaning of the tow bar and pads as you described ( but not removed the pads to clean ). Another great video.

[@erceoznalcin7244]

Thanks Dan, right after this video i decided to clean may pads and tow ball. Unfortunately i found out that there is only one pad remain in stabiliser. I bought this caravan brand new and i beleive that it is not a part that can drop its self. Thanks for the video which help me avoid an accident..

[@kazz750]

What can I say great advice because I get the same to. Cheers dan. 👍

[@Lesd05]

Had this problem driving home from Ludlow last week. Great stuff, thank you 👍🏻

[@matthat19]

Brilliant post just when I needed it. Will look at this over the weekend.

[@colingordon4]

Thanks Dan, we've got the same caravan and the same problem. This video, like all of your videos is a great help. Many thanks Col

[@grantmayos9639]

We've got same on our van mate. It's going for a service on 19th, so I'll get him to replace the friction pads. I've no idea how long they've been in there. We're going to Great Haywood to see the grandson. The service engineer is mobile. Good lad he is. Local to Rugeley. Thanks for the tip mate.

[@michaelgray1351]

Thanks Dan my Swift seems to be having the same problem, I notice it on mine after it has been in storage since my last trip and then on my next one, but thought it may have been the brakes, but will check my friction pads just to eliminate them. 👍

[@williamosborne6258]

That's my little job for tomorrow ready for my trip next week thank you

[@oscarsoper5341]

Great video Dan, I need to sort the squeaking so this is very timely and useful. Off topic but the video is coming across a bit dark, I've not seen this in any other comments so could just be me seeing the issue, but other youtube videos looking fine. Please keep the video online though the content is very useful.

[@paultripp1377]

Thanks for that Dan, it’s a horrible sound that seems to go right through the car.

[@cameronstevenson7138]

A tip for cleaning your towball or taking paint off a rotary wire brush in your battery drill makes a good job of it just then wipe it down to clean it your hands are also a lot cleaner too and it doesnt leave loads of scratches on the towball surface either

[@paulrobinson6501]

Thanks again Dan, another very useful video. The cordless drill idea is brilliant, will be doing mine before next trip.

[@davidbotterill7549]

Useful video. Short but to the point. 👍Dave Birmingham

[@simonmason7760]

Thanks Dan, I’ve got the same problem , like you I have been cleaning the tow ball with wet and dry.brake cleaner on pads and ball to get rid of any residue muck. I removed the pads and carried out the same process on them 👍. Just got back from a 200 mile return tow and guess what……. It starts bloody groaning and squeaking again. New friction pads are now ordered!!

[@adriandavis9790]

I’ve put new pads on mine and they still squeak

[@stewarta2505]

Well timed video Dan, mine squeak just like that dispute dealer replacing (foc) the pads just a few months back. Will certainly pop them out and have a look again. Seems it’s a frequent job if your doing a few miles towing

[@32_bits]

Usually there are pads at the front and back of the hitch, along with the side pads that you showed. They are not easy to remove but easy to clean with emery cloth, which is much better than wet and dry.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi, yeah the front and back should only need cleaning with a cloth, they apply no friction to the ball. I have a follow up video coming showing how the front and back wear over time and how to replace them. 👍

[@M..R....]

Mine squeaked/creaked too a few months ago travelling 70 miles home from a Tweed Valley trip. The other week no noise at all on return trip to East Riding coast and hadn't cleaned towball or hitch pads.

[@twerki78]

What what be interesting is to see if the friction force changes. Maybe a set of luggage scales could be used to measure the force applied to move the ball in the hitch. New video idea? We used to suffer with the same but since having a euro 6 diesel with SCR we haven't had the issue. Maybe the glaze is a mix of diesel soot?

[@grantmayos9639]

Just a thought mate. Your caravan is quite new. I think the Liberal use of brake dosc cleaner may be the reason the friction pads are shining up the way they are. Perhaps use less, or stop using it.

[@simontoplis3240]

If you are cleaning your towball to that extent then no wonder the friction pads had a glaze and making the noise. Self inflicted and a good video to raise awareness.

[@TheTrudgians]

Not sure it’s self inflicted, I’ve been doing exactly the same process, removing all contaminants for the past 9 years, - 5 of which on this caravan. it’s only become an issue in the last 2 trips.

[@simontoplis3240]

I’m sure it is as you have made the towball pretty smooth so the pads will glaze and also noted the inner side are also glazed so the pads are spinning. I use ours all year round, covering around 4k miles a year towing all year round. Never had glazing on the pads and just make sure the towball is clean. Try putting a washer in the pads as when you put the hitch down it went down too easy. It should have more resistance.

[@craiground3299]

Are you going to be at the nec caravan show this year. I am going on Saturday.

[@turboman6680]

currently need to do the same job. Isn't there a 3rd pad in there though Dan?

[@TheCaravanNut]

As always Dan an informative helpful vlog…to which I will copy in a few months 🤣🤣 NOT! I need to work on my ball, it’s rusty looking, the one on the car by the way before you start. Take care matey 🙂

[@TheTrudgians]

We’ve heard about your ball buddy. 😂😂 it’s an Internet sensation. Hope you’re ok. Will call soon, with news. 👍

[@RichardFosterOutdoors]

Thanks for great video. We have been getting horrendous creaking and squeaking. At first I put it down to the power cable rubbing where it emerges from the housing as it does squeak when I move it in and out by hand but the creaking is really loud now so I am going to clean the pads like you have done. Any idea how long the pads last before they're worn out? Our caravan is 18 months old but as we are retired we are regularly going away in it - almost every month so we have done alot of trips.

[@adamsher86]

Great vlog and advice! Can I ask Dan, is that the drill you use for your steadies on your caravan rather than winding them up manually? Thanks, Adam.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Adam, yes this is the one here. It’s been brilliant. 👍 amzn.to/3REq2sk **Affiliate link**

[@derekjacob2101]

One thing I found in my limited caravan experience is that despite me cleaning my ball regularly - the caravan secure store ball used to move my van has grease on it that gets onto my pads. Grrrrrr

[@chrisbezant4760]

Hello, did I see you use a device in a previous video where you tested the amount of gas left in the cylinder?

[@nickpmoody]

When I used to tow with my Lexus RX 450h (best car I’ve ever owned) I got noises through the car from the hitch, deeply unnerving noises. Tried cleaning all the Alko pads, even replaced them all including the front and rear ones too. Could not stop the noises. Changed to a VW Caravelle as the tow car and not heard a peep out of it since. Same Caravan.

[@TheTrudgians]

That’s interesting, was it a new or old tow ball on the car?

[@nickpmoody]

@@TheTrudgians the tow bar was brand new fitted by Lexus, I had it checked to ensure it was fitted correctly which I knew it was. Be towing with the VW Caravelle for 4 years now and never cleaned the Alko Pads since, not a single noise from the tow hitch.

[@daveharwood7894]

I had the same issue with a Hyundai Santa Fe. Drove me mad but evetually tracked it down. It had a spare wheel that lowered down on a wire to release it if needed and the tyre had been wound up really tight into its recess such that the tyre wall wall rubbing on the metal of the recess and squeaking when the car body was being flexed when towing. Unhitched there was no noise at all!

[@enzodelbono9884]

Why did my friction pad break and fall out when I unhitched my caravan at my destination..its a new caravan..its never happened before on any of my other caravans I've owned..have you any idea why...thanks

[@PaulEnt1]

My caravan is in the dealers having the Alko hitch replaced as the stabiliser is disengaging on 18 months old

[@kennethtarran1525]

Hi Dan, thanks for the video. We've recently changed our car and thus a new towbar and ball from which I removed the paint down to bare metal. Our caravan is a 2018 Lunar Clubman SR. Now we have awful groaning from the hitch particularly when turning. I've just had a look at where/how I can remove the pads to have a look at them. I think its an Alko 3004 hitch by the way. There's no dustcovers on the outer sides, and on the ends of the pads that I can see, I tapped with a screwdriver and it seems to be metallic. Our previous van was an earlier Clubman, similar to the model you had previously. It must have been a different type of Alko hitch on that one because I remember changing them following your video on how to change the friction pads without any problems. Any thoughts/recommendations on the hitch type that I've got now and how to remove the friction pads? Thanks, Ken

[@therealhollingberys7318]

I see a small issue here Dan there is no car attached to your tow ball 😂

[@LittleCamperNZ]

Why do you in the UK have such complicated tow hitches ? Ours dont need friction pads and have a simple locking lever which has served us well from the 1960s to today. I guess there must be a reason.

[@tonysutton6559]

Any ideas as to how to stop the whining and moaning noises that come from my passenger seat?

[@TheTrudgians]

The promise of visiting Pandora, usually stops the constant groan. I did find that spraying it with brake disc cleaner and rubbing with 320 grit wet and dry, caused more of a moan and oddly meant i slept on the sofa. Its not recommended.... ;-)

[@grantmayos9639]

*disc

[@scott8579]

Have you checked your nose weight? Too much weight on front end causes all sorts of noise, problems 😮

[@dwsimon1]

I would say your tow ball is too shiny tnh try rough it up with some 80 grit

[@colinmew7139]

Just heard you say you were selling your caravan. I hope that does not mean you are giving up caravanning and still make your films and tips. That will upset me.