savantuk

Hi,

My van is going for a service tomorrow, to include cambelt, new discs and pads. I'd like the chassis to be properly serviced, and I know that AL-KO specify that the torsion bar suspension has to be grease.

Unfortunately, I can't find the chassis manual

As I understand, and from memory, the rear has to be jacked up, and then has to be greased via the nipples. This much is obvious, but I have forgotten the greasing instructions. IIRC, it is 5 - 7 strokes of the greasegun until fresh grease is seen exiting the bushes??

Thanks

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Regards,

Doug

ingram

I can't help with the specific question Doug, but has your service garage confirmed that they will grease it? I have heard from some people, when they were trying to get their Alkos greased, that some garages don't even have grease guns now!

Harvey

geofliz

Yes I was told this by my Garage. I have had to do it myself with the help of a mechanic friend on the first occaision. With regard to the method you are right Doug that Alko say 6or 7 pumps on the gun, but that has never worked for me. I have had to put much more than that in to get any sign of discharge from the bushes. I tend to do it twice a year to be sure but it is a heck of a job to get underneath.

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I had to give up jogging cos I kept spilling the wine

walburga

I've just bought a 2004 reg Hymer B614 with the Al-ko rear axle.
A few questions -:
What grease can you use, recommended or otherwise ?
Can you jack up one rear wheel, grease the axle, lower it, then do the same with the other side, or does the whole axle need to be off the ground ?
Whereabouts on the axle are the bushes through which excess grease will be expelled ?

There is mention of the procedure in the literature that I got with the van, but it is a bit sparse with no pictures.

I've still got my high pressure grease gun from my MG kingpin days !

regards
Allen

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savantuk

Hi,

I doubt that the torsion bar runs the width of the axle - it would defeat the object. I imagine therefore that you could easily do one side at a time.

I have both a German and English manual from mine. The German manual tells you it has to be done, and how to do it (except amount of grease needed), and the English one dosen't mention it, though I had printed the instructions inside the rear cover. The manual must have disappeared during the last sevice.

The German manual recommends the following grease:

Costrac GL 1501 or
Cardex 3746 SP

I haven't heard of either, but I'm sure your workshop has a compatability chart.

__________________
Regards,

Doug

pappajohn

the rear axle must be clear of the ground on both sides simultaniously and not jacked up under the axle. you need to jack under the chassis itself.

on some alko axles there are two nipples on both sides.

use hard wooden blocks so as not to dent/crease the chassis

if memory serves its 6/7 strokes of a manual grease gun...(i wouldnt use a powered gun)...whether grease appears at the axle ends or not.

any grease that does ouze out will appear from the very end of the axle tube where the swing arm joins on.

if any ouzes out theres no point pumping more in

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SIFTA SAM

AL-KO man at the NEC said that as the torsion bars do not go the length of the axle, you can lift (and grease) each wheel independent of the other, but I have got into the habit of elevating both wheels prior to greasing.

GL 1501 (Kluber) has been replaced by Kluberlube BE41-1501

Burstnerite

Hi,

I E-Mailed ALKO and received the following response :-

The Castrol LM grease can be used with a hand operated grease gun (this is what we recommend not a pressurised gun) . You will need to raise the wheels clear of the ground; this then allows the grease to circulate around the swing arm journal. By raising the wheels one at a time will allow the grease to reach the correct areas.

Regards
Alan Sanders (Service Manager)

Hope this helps,
Jim