Alko axle and axle stands

[Figaro]

Quick question, can I support the van on axle stands under the Alko axle bar ?

 

[icantremember]

Could be risky and may damage the tube.

 

[Lazyboy]

Not recommended at all. Support vehicle on the rear jacking points only. Damage will/can occur if you support the "tube"

 

[Figaro]

Better to find somewhere on the chassis then ?
I looked in the Alko book and whilst it's all in German, it didn't appear to offer any advice on jacking up and supporting

 

[Figaro]

Not recommended at all. Support vehicle on the rear jacking points only. Damage will/can occur if you support the "tube"

Trouble is, with the bottle jack on the jacking point, there's no room to get the axle stands in

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[PP Bear]

Here’s what I do on the rear with my Alko.

Drive up ramps both sides and chock front wheels. I lift using a 4 ton trolley jack and a block of wood under the jacking point only and lift slowly. When it’s lifted high enough to take out the ramp, remove it and place an axle stand on the suspension arm as close as possible to the rear of the disc. Then only lower the jack until the vehicle is engaged on both the jack and axle stand and no more, then if poss leave the jack and wood in place along with the axle stand. Belt and braces.

When it’s time to remove them all, jack it up, remove the axle stand, replace the ramp and lower the jack and Bobs your uncle or sumfing like that.

What job are you looking to do?

 

[Figaro]

What job are you looking to do?

Handbrake adjustment

 

[PP Bear]

Just did the same for the MOT in November, hopefully an easy job for you. Mine was straight forward and let us know how you get on.

If possible, try to grease the torsion bar and axle leg too, as it’s worth doing for sure.

 

[kilgettyblade]

did mine using quad ramps when you get one set of wheels on top step other set just off floor enough to remove wheel or spin it to see through hole

 

[Bailey58]

Been there but never got the tee shirt! I wanted to get mine off the tyres for the winter so, axle stands at the ready and a lot of toing and froing, I lifted the rear with the trolley jack raised on timber by about 4" to get enough height for the wheels to hang while I greased the axle. Left the rear on axle stands and moved to the front but with the jack on the lifting points I had no idea where to place the axle stands so it's back on the floor now and being moved every few days as it always was when sitting idle for a couple of months or more. Open to suggestions where to place axle stands at the front.

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[PP Bear]

Been there but never got the tee shirt! I wanted to get mine off the tyres for the winter so, axle stands at the ready and a lot of toing and froing, I lifted the rear with the trolley jack raised on timber by about 4" to get enough height for the wheels to hang while I greased the axle. Left the rear on axle stands and moved to the front but with the jack on the lifting points I had no idea where to place the axle stands so it's back on the floor now and being moved every few days as it always was when sitting idle for a couple of months or more. Open to suggestions where to place axle stands at the front.

Personally I’d leave it on the ground and do the moving around, but not every couple of days.

Mines in storage and I take it for a drive around every 3 weeks, but run it up weekly.

 

[Figaro]

Just did the same for the MOT in November, hopefully an easy job for you. Mine was straight forward and let us know how you get on.

If possible, try to grease the torsion bar and axle leg too, as it’s worth doing for sure.

I got it lifted onto the axle stands today useing your method of driving up the levelling ramps.
This allowed sufficient room to get the bottle jack under the jacking point and the axle stands under the rather substantial leg that comes down from the jacking point to the lower shock absorber mount. So all good.
Handbrake adjusted but I don't think it's done a great deal. It took very few turns of the adjuster to lock the drum up and there was never much travel on the handbrake. It didn't feel like much of an improvement when I got it down.
I probably should have had the drum / disk off to roughen up the pads, so I may have to do it all again
At least I now have a safe method of lifting / proping up the van I do confess to some trepidation crawling under a lifted van, but it's just a confidence thing really and that has grown today
Oh, I greased the Alko whilst under there as you suggested.

 

[mitzimad]

evidently you cant properly grease the axle unless the trailing arms are hanging loose

 

[Figaro]

evidently you cant properly grease the axle unless the trailing arms are hanging loose

They were hanging loose

 

[donkey]

I think if you have the adjusters through the hole in the drum, then before adjusting these you should first slacken off the hand brake cables. This allows the shoes to expand fully before taking up the slack via the drum adjusters. then and only then should you re-adjust the cables.

Geoff

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[Rob Turner]

No, definitely not.

 

[mitzimad]

They were hanging loose

sorry i tought you had stand under them

 

[donkey]

No, definitely not.

Hi Rob, which post are you referring to?

Geoff

 

[Figaro]

I think if you have the adjusters through the hole in the drum, then before adjusting these you should first slacken off the hand brake cables. This allows the shoes to expand fully before taking up the slack via the drum adjusters. then and only then should you re-adjust the cables.

Geoff

Yes, that's what I did

 

[Figaro]

sorry i tought you had stand under them

No the axle stands were under the bottom of the leg, that at the top end forms the jacking point.

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[PP Bear]

I got it lifted onto the axle stands today useing your method of driving up the levelling ramps.
This allowed sufficient room to get the bottle jack under the jacking point and the axle stands under the rather substantial leg that comes down from the jacking point to the lower shock absorber mount. So all good.
Handbrake adjusted but I don't think it's done a great deal. It took very few turns of the adjuster to lock the drum up and there was never much travel on the handbrake. It didn't feel like much of an improvement when I got it down.
I probably should have had the drum / disk off to roughen up the pads, so I may have to do it all again
At least I now have a safe method of lifting / proping up the van I do confess to some trepidation crawling under a lifted van, but it's just a confidence thing really and that has grown today
Oh, I greased the Alko whilst under there as you suggested.

Mine was exactly the same, I didnt turn the adjusting wheel much at all, but made the difference on the MOT. I did strip off the pads and callipers and tried to remove the disc/drum assembly, but it’s rock solid, so had to give up in the end. Thought the same as you and rough up the shoes. I actually hardly use the handbrake unless I absolutely have too. I park up and leave it in gear, ensuring that the vehicle is stationary and no strain on the gearbox. I also leave it in storage with the handbrake off too.

Blooming well done on greasing it too, that always makes me feel better

 

[Googlebot]

I wouldn’t bother roughing up the shoes. You have to get the disc and calliper carrier bracket off and it isn’t worth it IMO.

I changed the discs and the handbrake was woeful after. I put the hand brake on a few notches and went for a drive, keeping an eye on the temperature at the back. Only went 2 miles, readjusted and voila, handbrake was back to normal.

As others have posted, it doesn’t take a lot of adjustment to lock up the brakes.

Mine had an advisory on the MOT of ineffective handbrake on one side. It passed fine after.

 

[68c]

I see the Alco suspension leg has a large hole opposite the axle. I have considered making up a peg that fit there so I can jack up on it, in that way I only have to lift the van enough to lift the tyre off the ground rather than lift the full suspension travel. Not really a new idea, similar lugs can be fitted to some aircraft, such as the Dornier 228, as of course they have a lot of travel to accept the thump down on landing.