Automotive hose clamps what are good stainless ones?
- Thread starter rodm1
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rust in the eye
Well-known member
Lined worm drive clamps apply the grip more evenly and won't tear up the hose.
Ideal Tridon: Lined Clamps
Ideal-Tridon Lined Clamps are designed for use with silicone rubber and other soft hose applications. Shop Ideal-Tridon Lined Clamps and more Today.
www.idealtridon.com
Talk about timing. We’re just discussing clamps in another thread.
I only use oetiker clamps anymore when it comes to fuel systems.
I only use oetiker clamps anymore when it comes to fuel systems.
Rusted Nut
Well-known member
These folks make very good clamps.
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BOOST Products
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dnschmidt
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If constant tension clamps are good enough for OEM's they're good enough for you. McMaster-Carr sells them. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/constant-tension-hose-clamps/
m.d.hunter63@hotmail.
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I like Norma, made in Germany or Sweden. Used them on my boat a lot, where a leaking hose can cause serious problems
Dave455
Well-known member
One of my pet peeves is crappy hose clamps, particularly the wire type that damage hoses, so I regularly replace them with decent ones, supplies of which I keep on hand!
I favour the genuine “Jubilee” clips. The quality is superb and they are priced reasonably. They are, however a British manufacturer (the inventors of the worm drive hose clip in fact) and I don’t know what availability is like in the US.
The advantage to Jubilee, is that they offer a lot of stainless. There is a choice of 304 or 316 grade stainless (the latter is marine grade). I use the 304 for external appplications and have had no issues.
If needed, they also offer their “Superclamps” in stainless.
Sadly, anything imported is likely to be more expensive than domeestic, although the same can be said for Norma, which I have also found to be acceptable.
I favour the genuine “Jubilee” clips. The quality is superb and they are priced reasonably. They are, however a British manufacturer (the inventors of the worm drive hose clip in fact) and I don’t know what availability is like in the US.
The advantage to Jubilee, is that they offer a lot of stainless. There is a choice of 304 or 316 grade stainless (the latter is marine grade). I use the 304 for external appplications and have had no issues.
If needed, they also offer their “Superclamps” in stainless.
Sadly, anything imported is likely to be more expensive than domeestic, although the same can be said for Norma, which I have also found to be acceptable.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
One thing that bothers me about "worm gear" clamps is that so many people OVER TIGHTEN them !
For very low pressure/vacuum spring hose clamps are cheap and adequate. I have an assortment of sizes.
For very low pressure/vacuum spring hose clamps are cheap and adequate. I have an assortment of sizes.
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CGarage
Well-known member
ABA Hose Clamps
www.ultimategarage.com
CGarage
Well-known member
Though not stainless, I also use these, which are heat formed thermoplastic
strutaeng
Well-known member
I also like the Ideal stainless steel hose clamps, Made in the USA. I buy them at Lowe's. They are also wider so they distribute the pressure better around the hose.
I know they say the constant tension clamps are better, but sometimes getting those little ears to expand (or they don't expand enough) is such a PIA. For those situations I change over to hose clamps. I've never had a hose leak at the barb fitting TBH.
Easy to access areas like the top radiator hoses, I've kept/reused the factory clamps.
I know they say the constant tension clamps are better, but sometimes getting those little ears to expand (or they don't expand enough) is such a PIA. For those situations I change over to hose clamps. I've never had a hose leak at the barb fitting TBH.
Easy to access areas like the top radiator hoses, I've kept/reused the factory clamps.
Talk about timing. We’re just discussing clamps in another thread.
I only use oetiker clamps anymore when it comes to fuel systems.
Link thread please.
Well ok, but there far less suggestions that offered up here already.
nadogail
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i have had good luck with Ideal brand clamps
YesIHaveAHammer
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I have a variety of these in an organiser, handy to have at hand.
"Original" 12mm wide, and "Nova" 9mm wide in smaller sizes. I seem to remember the former are still made in Sweden, but the latter not.
Thanks for the suggestion CG, those look like a great solution for a clean installation on the rare occasions I stay with rubber hose over braided / AN fittings.
When I do electrical harnesses I use shrink tube with adhesive for my sheathing termination points. I might try this and see if it’s a cleaner look.
CGarage
Well-known member
There is a variety pack you can order which has the thermoplastic clamps contained in a box in a variety of sizes. This was most helpful. I found I could use a slightly smaller ID clamp for my application, and if I just used the standard measurements to determine size, I would have ended up ordering a larger clamp. The smaller clamp ended up fitting better.
Do observe the manufacturer recommended thermoplastic clamp temp recommendations when using the heat gun, also.
This is the way!!!!
Tridon used to be the standard in the US for quality worm drive, but dunno about today with all the offshoring.
The OE style constant tension clamps work just fine for me. I've changed one on a lower radiator hose because it had some rust, but it also had ~150K miles.
They make fancy screwed band type constant tension clamps that use a spring, these are common in the aftermarket turbocharged world, but that will be expensive.
The OE style constant tension clamps work just fine for me. I've changed one on a lower radiator hose because it had some rust, but it also had ~150K miles.
They make fancy screwed band type constant tension clamps that use a spring, these are common in the aftermarket turbocharged world, but that will be expensive.
sz0k30
Well-known member
What the hell do you guys do to damage hoses? Been using basic worm clamps for 50 years and never damaged a hose because of them.
Dagny
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Those U.K. ones look nice. I use ideal all stainless test with a magnet
KnurledNut
Well-known member
You can have your cake and eat it too with stainless steel constant tension worm clamps.
https://www.idealtridon.com/flex-gear-hd-ideal-45.html
reader2580
Well-known member
The constant tension hose clamps are pretty much a requirement for silicone coolant hose to keep them from leaking. This style: https://www.mcmaster.com/54205K11/ I buy mine from NAPA.
NHtoolguy
Well-known member
For worm drive clamps, I prefer the lined type that won't allow rubber from the hose to extrude through the pierced holes, or the Norma style with formed (not pierced) bands. I also try to buy all-stainless ones. I don't like the look of rusty worm screws. One real pet peeve of mine are clamps that are too big for the application, which result in long exposed bands when tightened. Buy the right size, for goodness sake! About 1/4 inch of protrusion when tight looks great.
It’s not that they good enough it’s that they superior from what I’m told since they can expand and contract with respect to heat cycles compared to worm clamp the coolant gets hot and the hose expands into the worm clamp which is now too tight for it and does a small amount of damage to the to the hose that cumulates over time.
Or you tighten it when it’s warm and now it compresses when cold and the worm clamp is too loose.
You guys don’t think the OE factories know that $1 worm drive clamps exist if they were better?
CGarage
Well-known member
AMG-Mercedes uses constant tension hose clamps.
This is the standard.
This is the standard.
Firebird1975
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I had purchased some overpriced reproduction tower clamps for my classic Pontiac a few years ago. They looked good but seemed to consistently loosen up over time In the end I pulled them off and replaced them with the 25-year-old Made in the USA stainless worm clamps that was previously on the car.
