Trailer Accessories: Original VS. Aftermarket – Is Cheaper Really Better?
They look almost identical and are low-priced: aftermarket parts for AL-KO VT trailer components. But how do non-original brake shoes and Bowden cables actually perform? AL-KO VT compared its own products with aftermarket options from other manufacturers in standardised tests.
The result: clear quality differences. The aftermarket products were much more susceptible to corrosion, endangering road safety.
Trailer Brake Shoes: Genuine Parts Offer Greater Corrosion Resistance
As part of a corrosion test, four trailer brake shoes for AL-KO VT trailers with 2051-type wheel brakes were put through their paces. These are supplied by NB Parts, Valeryd, Pro Trailer, and SQB. After 24 hours in the salt spray chamber (Votsch VSC 450), test sample 1 showed significant rust, while test sample 2 was partially affected by rust (see illustration). The series-produced AL-KO VT brake shoes (Mat. No. 384294) remained free of visible corrosion.
Rust can cause problems if, for example, the brake shoes rust onto the drum. To get the trailer back on the road, the brake shoes would then have to be manually detached from the brake drums. If this cannot be achieved by forceful driving off, a major repair is required. In addition, some samples had noticeably smaller friction surfaces, which further reduces the effectiveness of the brakes.
Genuine AL-KO VT Bowden Cables Outperform on Corrosion Protection
Quality differences were also evident with an aftermarket Bowden cable from a Chinese manufacturer. On first use, efficiency was good. However, in the standard long-term salt spray corrosion protection test after 240 hours, there was a pronounced rattling that could be both heard and felt when operating the Bowden cable. During the endurance test, the rubber protection grommet showed signs of severe wear. As well as becoming brittle, some pieces had even broken off completely. As a result, the efficiency of the cable dropped by around 15 percent compared to its new condition.
The original Bowden cable from AL-KO VT performed much better in the same test. Only minor traces of corrosion were detected, and unlike the aftermarket part, the rubber grommet fits snugly around the cable with no play, maintaining full functionality and effectively preventing moisture ingress. The efficiency decreased only minimally, by around two percent compared to when new. The holding force of the cable end was around 25 percent higher than the aftermarket alternative.
Our Recommendation: Safety First
The tested aftermarket alternatives clearly fall short of AL-KO VT quality standards. AL-KO VT therefore strongly recommends: never compromise on safety, and always ensure that genuine AL-KO VT components and spare parts are installed in your trailer!
You will find more information about road safety at www.alko-tech.com/de.
