caravan brakes

[radiomark]

Ive got a 1987 sprite alpine caravan(retro not old) and was wondering how easy/difficult it is to adjust the brakes.
I am getting nudged by the van when I brake so obviously they need adjusting or replacing.I'm fairly competant but I am new to caravans.

[scottishvolvo]

Maybe the drawbar needs a bit of grease. There should be a nipple under the cowling or somewhere really obvious, a hole in the side of the cowling, to give access to the nipple. If it has not been done for a while the sliding motion of the drawbar could be sticky.

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by radiomark

Ive got a 1987 sprite alpine caravan(retro not old) and was wondering how easy/difficult it is to adjust the brakes.
I am getting nudged by the van when I brake so obviously they need adjusting or replacing.I'm fairly competant but I am new to caravans.

hi
if your getting nudged by the van , if its fitted with a damper then thats at fault not your brakes.
mike

[radiomark]

Thanks for the replies,so if lubricating the grease nipples doesn't cure it is the damper fixable or are they a complete unit.
As I said I'm new to caravans.I understand the basics of how the braking system works,so what you've said makes sense.

[scottishvolvo]

I think they are a complete unit but working it a bit to free it with new grease should do the trick.

[COOKIE121055]

I think that the dampers can be replaced but its a brute of a job if you havent done anything like it before best of luck and the van breaks mite need replacing if they havent been done in the past just like drum breaks on a car can be adjusted much the same way hope this helps

[outnumbered]

Originally Posted by radiomark

Thanks for the replies,so if lubricating the grease nipples doesn't cure it is the damper fixable or are they a complete unit.
As I said I'm new to caravans.I understand the basics of how the braking system works,so what you've said makes sense.

hi
the easy way to test your damper is push on the drawbar towards the van if it is difficult to push back then the damper is fine if you can push it easilly then it will need replacing thats if it has one fitted.the purpose of the damper is to dampen the forward movement of the van whilst braking so that you dont get the nudge effect from the caravan to the car. not trying to tell you to suck eggs.
hope that helps
mike

[JimDay]

If you are new to caravaning & you want to do you own maintenance Haynes do a caravan workshop manual it's a very usefull publication well worth the money

[radiomark]

thanks again for all the replies.I will try out the suggestions.I dont mind spending some cash on doing it the van up a bit.I'll let you know how it goes with the greasing etc.
I've seen that book in halfords,but a trip to the library may be in order first.

cheers mark

[Sonic Blue]

As Outnumbered has said,pushing on the Head at the front is the easiest way to check.You will find it is easier to do this with the handbrake on/up so there is less resistance from the brake.If the Head and Shaft spring back out towards you quickly,then the Damper has 'gone'.It should come out slowly.
The Damper,should you need it, is a Knott type and will cost approx.£55.To change the damper is very easy.Take the two bolts out that hold Head on,then at the rear of the Coupling(on the top)you will find a nut and bolt that holds an 'L' bracket.Undo this bracket and push the Damper from the front so that the other end of it is poking out the rear.You will now find that the Damper is held to this bracket by a nut either side of it,undo the nuts and take of the bracket then push the Damper out through the front of the coupling.Fitting the new one is the reverse of above,taking into account that the rear most Head bolt also holds the front of the Damper under tension.
The other things you should also check are that the brake shoes are adjusted correctly(adjuster behind the back plate)and that the two brake cables are moving freely(quite common for these to stick if not lubricated).
Hope this helps.