alko suspension, with grease nipples Forums

huntergatherer

hello all is here anyone who can put some light on this matter please, i have a fiat compass 460, the camper is slightly leaning over to one side, and with a tape messure over the wheel arch to the ground it is about 2" lower one side looking from underneath at the back you can see the arm on the passenger side of the alko suspension that holds the wheel is at a slightly different angle making the van lean over, finding a garage to help with this is a night mare, but i may have found one they say i need a new axle some time ago i remember going over a pot hole it was quite a bang at the time enough to loose the wheel trim, the front springs are fine and the plate that tells you the id of the axle is missing, i have that horrible feeling in my stomach,, that paying for this one is going to hurt

JP

My understanding is that these type of axels work on a torsion bar system. They have several flat bars that are secured at one end and float at the other which is connected to the wheel via the swing arm.
They can snap especially if not looked after and greased as per the service info. I have heard of just the torsion bars being replaced.
James

whistlinggypsy

(http://www.multimap.com/clients/places.cgi?pc=&client=alko&db=GB)

Hi dunk, log on the above link and you will find 3 AL KO chassis agents who will help you.

Bob

solentviews

Hi, Last year I was advised at MOT that I had slight wear on one of my torsion bar ends on the back axle. In JanuaryI put the van in to have the swinging arm rebushed etc. When they eventually managed to strip the back end down they found both torsion bars worn beyond rebushing. Alko would not provide just the swinging arm and so I had to have a complete new back axle. Cost £1800. It had obvioulsy been neglected for some time and there are grease nipples on the back axle that need greasing at service time.
Ian

JockandRita

Hi all,

Does anyone know if it a specific grease for the Alko chassis/axles, or is it a general purpose grease?

Jock.

Dizziblonde

Hi dunk.....your tale of woe sounds very familiar, as this happened to me some time ago with one of our previous vans.

As whislinggypsy has supplied a link, I suggest you take the van to your nearest Alko agent for an inspection. Also i recommend you phone Alko personally prior to the inspection just to get their comments on what might be amiss. Also phone them again after your inspection to corroborate what the Alko agent has found. I did this then had a third opinion from another agent who was more abliging. The first agent had a lot of work on and I felt the inflated quote was too much.

On the question of grease i am sure it has to be injected under correct pressure. I don't believe an owner can apply the correct type of grease with a common or garden grease gun.........

Good luck.

Dai

solentviews

I believe you have to jack up the chassis leaving the supension free before injecting the axle with grease.
Ian

theflyingscot

hi dunk,sounds like youve broken a torsion bar , whats inside depends on what type of axle it is . the early bt has a 3 flat bar sandwich ,btr1 up to year 2000 has 3 tubular rods per side,later can have air assistance also. it's going to cost a few quid,how much depends on whether you can do your own labour. if your stripping it yourself i can email you a pdf identification document.

grease (suitable for wheel bearings) or better will be fine for the tube bushes . wheels off the ground then pump it in with a normal grease gun till you feel the resistance .

KenS

dunk

A word of warning, if you have the torsion bar type and all three torsion bars go on one side there is nothing to hold the swinging arm assembly on your axle, it will work its way outwards and come up against your wheel arch with possible dire body damage.

Remember that the load is taken on three bars and if one goes then the load is increase by 50% on each of the other two. Looking at the main bearing on the swinging arm (centre line of axle) if you can see three bolts in a triangular formation then you have the three torsion bar type, torsion bars are different left from right. Crawl under your vehicle to the centre of the axle and under the mud on the tube you will find a plate with all the details of the axle.

KenS