Alko Rear Axle Maintenance and Replacement

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

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I finally got round to greasing my two rear axles yesterday. (y) 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!:giggle: I’ve had the grease and new grease gun for at least a year too! Hey ho, it’s done now for a year.(y)
 
A S R said:
I finally got round to greasing my two rear axles yesterday. (y) 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!:giggle: I’ve had the grease and new grease gun for at least a year too! Hey ho, it’s done now for a year.(y)
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Not sure spinning the wheels will help? The grease doesn't go near the wheel bearings.
 
Well there must be something in there that moves otherwise it wouldn’t need greasing shirley? :unsure:
 
BILL 875 said:
There is torsion bar springs and bushes in the axle tube.
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Oh ok. It’s beyond me. :giggle: Has anyone got a schematic diagram of the inside / make up of these axles? I’d like to educate myself.(y)

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A S R said:
Oh ok. It’s beyond me. :giggle: Has anyone got a schematic diagram of the inside / make up of these axles? I’d like to educate myself.(y)
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This firm strip them down and rebuild them 👍

 
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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
 
Ok, thanks. (y) 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. :giggle: They were done jacked up in the air though.(y)
 
My son has just purchased a Elegance E795 with ALKO suspension with Fiat 2.8 engine found this post handy. It may also be informative to other funsters whom are unaware of the type fitted to there motorhome.
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Lenny HB said:
Have you not been getting it greased son?
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Nope, no grease nipples🤷‍♂️
It doesn’t half creak when the suspensions going up and down, but I was thinking (still do) it was the brakes (handbrake on)🤷‍♂️
 
WESTY66 said:
Nope, no grease nipples🤷‍♂️
It doesn’t half creak when the suspensions going up and down, but I was thinking (still do) it was the brakes (handbrake on)🤷‍♂️
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They made them like that for 2 or 3 years , obviously didn't work.
I think FB fit nipples on a rebuild.

I would get it done before you do another long trip, you don't want a torsion bar breaking.
 
Lenny HB said:
They made them like that for 2 or 3 years , obviously didn't work.
I think FB fit nipples on a rebuild.

I would get it done before you do another long trip, you don't want a torsion bar breaking.
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I’m off on Boxing Day 🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
geofliz said:
From my experience with regard to the greasing of the Alko rear axle, it seems that the Motorhome dealers do not do it because they say it is mechanical and that the Garages do not do it because it is not part of the manufacturers service schedule. The problem with that is people take thier pride and joy to the respective dealers for service thinking that all is o.k, only to find out later that they have got problems. I spoke to the garage that serviced my motorhome and they said that they did not have grease anymore because modern vehicles do not have grease nipples. My local garage asked how old the vehicle was and were surprised when I said two years. They did not seem to have a clue about the Alko side at all. I went to our local Alko recommended dealer at Alcester to see if they would do it as they advertise Motorhome servicing and they said it was mechanical and would not do it even if they fully serviced the motorhome. When I spoke to Alko they said that it was a common problem and people were getting caught out by it. I ended up having to do my own because that was the only way that I could be sure that it was done. Surely someone should take responsibility for this task. O.K. I did it this time but with Rhumatoid Arthritis I do not know how many more times I will be able to get under a Jacked up motorhome on my drive.

Happy New Year to you all and enjoy your travels.
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I'm wondering if it's feasible to extend the grease nipple. So, remove the nipple and insert a new fitting similar to brake pipe attached to caliper. Then run the pipe or flexi hose to a side locker where the grease nipple can be reattached. Could that be a work around?
 
No reason why not, But apparently the nipples don’t put the grease in the right place on some of the axles,
If you look at the Fraser brown video it’s explained it very well,
 
captain.chum said:
As far as I know, you have to take the weight completely off both wheels before greasing.
Sorry for the delayed reply, still learning my way around the site myself.
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One side at a time is ok, I think as they are not connected across,
 

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