Winterhoff friction pads

If you think of the hitch as a cup that holds onto the tow ball,  then you're wiping the inside of the cup with your brake cleaner. Though the creaking & groaning is a tad annoying, it's not a sign of impending disaster. 😉 Just turn your radio up a bit more. I'm not sure about the Winterhoff hitch, but the pads are easily removed on an Alko hitch so would imagine 5he same for yours. Anything on You Tube? 

Hello  , cleaning tow ball is straight forward , any good motor store shop will have brake cleaner usually comes in a spray tin try Halfords if you don't have a local shop .

Give tow ball a  good spray & use scotch bright pad to give it a good clean to make it shine , wipe off with a clean cloth & spray again but let it air dry , then put a ball cover on if you have one .....never use oil or grease on tow ball .

Pads may just need a clean in situation , use fine emery paper on them get access to the pads from underneath  with small 2" square pieces of emery , give them a light clean then give them a spray with brake cleaner & let them air dry  , job done .

Hope that helps 👍

And everybody has set off at least once without their towing mirrors 😎👍

I have the Winterhoff WS3000 series hitch Daisy, pads are front and back of the cup. Replacements come with instructions but you have to remove the rubber boot that sits over the front part of the hitch, the pads are clipped in so to remove old ones you use a hammer and small punch through holes from the outside (I used a small screwdriver) to destroy the plastic clip on the old ones. Give everything a good clean and clip in the new from inside of the cup.

Probably the written instructions will be clearer than mine but that's basically it.

It is a DIY job, but you may break your finger nails removing the black rubber covering that will expose the clip holes.

I usually stop in the first layby when I realise I have forgotten the mirrors

Speak for yourself. 

Not in English but the video shows you all you need to know 

As always, thank you so much!  I've done a trip to Halfords and feel confident about doing a 'clean up'.  Think I might leave changing the pads to someone that knows what they are doing in due course! ☺

Don`t be surprised if cleaning makes little difference or at best for a very limited period. I`ve yet to see a definitive answer as to why some hitches creak and some don`t and why some continue to creak no matter what you do. Since the friction pads are common to the hitch on either Winterhof or Alko that leads me to think the cause is connected with the towball make, specifically the material they are made from and the finish of the towball. Some towballs rust and some don`t so the material is not identical. My last towball Westfalia creaked loudly no matter what I tried whereas the current Bosal has never made a sound.

  Daisy,   Our Winterhoff use to squeak so much I was embarrassed when arriving on site especially if the owner was around to direct us.Cleaning of the towball and  hitch pads with a small piece of wet and dry and then a quick spray will cure it, I now tend to do it before every trip.

I think it is very unlikely you will need to change the pads, As previously mentioned the pads fit at the front and rear of the hitch - just have a feel with one finger, they are only aound 25mm diameter and surprisingly smooth

Fibber ..... 😉