Hose clamps?

[jamesewells]

I know I'm probably overthinking this, but I'm replacing my radiator and hoses and am wondering what hose clamps to use. I've read the worm gear type leak after a while, the T-Locks can cut the hose, etc. The OEM type seem to get the best reviews but must be ordered. (I'm fine with that) So, what do most people use when they install new hoses? Thanks!

 

[V8Man]

The worm gear clamps are great except they are subject to temperature changes. Say you tighten the clamp on warm engine in the summer. It will seal great, then when the aluminum fitting under the hoses cools to the outdoor temperature overnight in the winter, the hose can leak until everything is warmed up again. The factory spring type clamps provide the same clamping force through all temperature ranges.
Old timers will remember every change of season having to give the worm gear clamps a twist.

 

[AuSeeker]

If you have a concern using other types of clamps just reuse the original factory clamps, they rarely if ever loose their spring tension.

 

[jamesewells]

If you have a concern using other types of clamps just reuse the original factory clamps, they rarely if ever loose their spring tension.

That's what I was thinking. Thank's for the help. Denso radiator arrived today!

 

[jamesewells]

If you have a concern using other types of clamps just reuse the original factory clamps, they rarely if ever loose their spring tension.

it's obvious I'm new at this mechanics thing. So, i'm replacing the radiator today and have a few problems:

Couldn't get the transmission hoses off, even though I removed the clips. So, I unscrewed the fitting off the radiator and will re-attach to the new one?

And, here's the real dumb one, I used a long extension for the bottom 2 radiator bolts and, of course, they both fell into the space right below them. How do I get them out? Tried pliers, etc. Or, just get new ones?

Thanks for the help and support.

 

[jamesewells]

Got them out with a magnet. I was just hot and frustrated. All Good! Thanks!

 

[AuSeeker]

Got them out with a magnet. I was just hot and frustrated. All Good! Thanks!

I would have suggested a magnet, but once you cooled off you figured it out, GOOD JOB, frustration is your worst enemy when working on mechanical stuff, it will cause you to make even more mistakes or make things harder than they have to be, best to step back reaccess and take a different approach at the issue, looks like you will make a good mechanic!!

Rubber hoses that have been clamped for a long time tend to be hard to remove, twisting and pulling usually works, BUT if the hoses are old and they have become hard and not as pliable as they once were it's best to sometimes just to replace them if possible, if you have new hoses it's easier to slice the hose length wise at the fitting/nipple/tubing it's connected to so it can expand and come off much easier, this sometime is the best way when you have a delicate fitting/nipple/pipe that pulling and twisting the hose can many times crack/damage the fitting/nipple/tubing, one example of where this is the best way is on heater cores hoses and some radiator hoses, the tubing on heater cores is very easy to bend and if you bend the tubing to much it will crack or break the tubing, radiators hoses ars similar when trying to remove old hoses if the radiator is still in good condition, to much twisting and pulling especially side to side motion can crack the seam where the pipe and side tank join together, or as on more modern connections the tubing/connector is most often plastic and is very easy to break or crack.

 

[jamesewells]

I already have new OEM hoses for the upper and lower, although the old ones, including transmission, are not in bad shape. If I decide to re-use the existing transmission cooler hoses, should I just remove the fitting from the new radiator and screw the old one into it, or remove the hose from the old fitting and clip the hose to the new radiator?( I think I know the answer)If I go ahead and replace the transmission hoses, its just rubber tubing from the parts house? Thanks so much. You've been very helpful!

Edit: I meant the oil cooler lines, not the transmission. Ours has a separate transmission cooler...

 

[AuSeeker]

The hoses you're referring too attached to the radiator are also transmission cooler hoses, the transmission cooler in front of the radiator is an additional transmission cooler and is a part of the towing package to provide additional cooling while towing.

You can replace those hoses with part stores hose, just be sure to get the proper type hose, the type of hose you need to get needs to be rated for use with oil and make sure you get the porper ID hose, while heater hose looks very similar and comes in the same sizes is not usually rated for oil.

As far as the fittings I would use the new fittings on the new radiator, but I would remove and keep the old fittings until you're sure the new ones are sealing well and not leaking, I personally would most likely find a use for them on some other piece of equipment in the future since I do all my own work on my vehicles and for friends, family, I tend to keep all old hardware just in case I find a need for it later.

 

[jamesewells]

I keep everything, as well. My wife calls me a "pack rat"...