Alko Rear Axle Maintenance and Replacement (2 Viewers)

[grasscutter]

Pretty certain mine hadn’t been done in a while by previous owners. Bought the grease and a gun and did it myself. Easy lifting it up on the EP levellers.
Was a bit nervous after seven pumps of the gun as they say 4 or 5. One side took 10 and the other 12 before I felt some resistance. All seals OK and no problems over the last 2500 miles.

 

[peterc10]

What grease does Alko recommend for greasing their axles please

 

[GrahamnSue]

Alko recommend Kluber Stabutherm GH461 or Fa. Conda Cardex 3746 SP

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[Lenny HB]

If you ring them they will tell the Castrol equivalent is OK.

 

[BILL 875]

I use Shell GadusS3 grease, its multipurpose extreme pressure grease looks like universal joint prop shaft grease its red in colour.Bill

 

[A S R]

I finally got round to greasing my two rear axles yesterday. One took about 12-15 pumps ( including spinning the wheel to help distribute it ), the second took about 8-10, third and fourth both took 6-8. I’ve only had the van 6 years! I’ve had the grease and new grease gun for at least a year too! Hey ho, it’s done now for a year.

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[tonyidle]

I finally got round to greasing my two rear axles yesterday. One took about 12-15 pumps ( including spinning the wheel to help distribute it ), the second took about 8-10, third and fourth both took 6-8. I’ve only had the van 6 years! I’ve had the grease and new grease gun for at least a year too! Hey ho, it’s done now for a year.

Not sure spinning the wheels will help? The grease doesn't go near the wheel bearings.

 

[A S R]

Well there must be something in there that moves otherwise it wouldn’t need greasing shirley?

 

[BILL 875]

There is torsion bar springs and bushes in the axle tube.

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[A S R]

There is torsion bar springs and bushes in the axle tube.

Oh ok. It’s beyond me. Has anyone got a schematic diagram of the inside / make up of these axles? I’d like to educate myself.

 

[rb62]

Oh ok. It’s beyond me. Has anyone got a schematic diagram of the inside / make up of these axles? I’d like to educate myself.

This firm strip them down and rebuild them

 

[TheBig1]

This is a depiction of the Alko torsion bar axle, showing the parts in place but the earlier version with flat bars. The big steel plate attaches to the chassis. The torsion bars are inside the axle tube, with bearings and seals to stop grease leaking. On the end of the torsion bars is the swing arm, that the hun and wheel are mounted on and the damper (shock absorber).
As you can see, there is no way that rotating the tyres can affect the grease distribution, but raising and lowering the suspension will.

This is a very basic system that has been around for many many years and Alko adapted the same system used on caravans and trailers to create an axle for motorhomes. They work well if lubricated properly and you need to take the weight off the wheels to put in grease correctly. It can be done on the floor but does not distribute properly. The torsion bars don't go half way across, so any overgreasing fills the void between the bars that sets rock hard. Proper greasing takes between 2 and 4 pumps each year

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[A S R]

Ok, thanks. The axles hadn’t been greased since I’ve had the van ( 6 years! ). In my defence I’d not known they’d needed greasing in the first 4 and a half years. They were done jacked up in the air though.