Looking for Advice/Comments/Suggestions/Sources for Silicone Coolant Hose and Clamps

Hey all,

I'm having some coolant weeping issues on my TR at the hose sections labeled #7 in this SPC diagram, and F's ~$75 price for each #7 (which is PN 121166 -- and I'd need 4) is motivating my search for alternatives. Rather than just "jumping" on the existing screw-type clamps (the existing hoses are quasi-new, but a conventional type) and risking a future reoccurence, I'm considering going to a (softer?) Silicone hose type and using the (Gates) constant force belleville-type clamps pictured below. Anyone have any experience with these hose clamps or with Silicone coolant hose? I'm wondering if 121166 has been changed to a Silicone-type hose (resulting in the higher price)? Any comments greatly appreciated (or suggested sources for 1.25"/32mm ID Silicone hose and clamps).

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I didn't do a lot of internet searching, but it seems that the Distributors that are large enough to carry the special clamps I'm interested in trying also require more of a minimum buy (3-stick package) on the silicone hose so I had to use two separate suppliers. (I did go with Pegasus for the hose based on best price -- thanks Tom!).

I agree that the ABA screw clamps are excellent, and even the stock F screw clamps are very well-suited for silicone hose, but I want try the constant-torque clamps (because I don't want to do this again!)

You know that thread that comes up -- "I've heard F have high maintenance costs..." -- although this does wrongly get over-exagerrated, this is a perfect example of the truth of the typical "F hassle" (remember this is to just replace a few frickin' water hoses):

1. Need to use three separate suppliers to get the parts (T.Rutlands for various F-specific gaskets in addition to the two suppliers mentioned above).

2. You can see the parts, you can even touch the parts, but you've got to remove most of 2 complete injection systems to actually replace the parts.

Aaargh! -- I let you know how it works out in a year or two

 

Just wanted to post a final follow-up on this (mostly because I've got enough extra parts to sell as another set if someone else is interested ). Turned out that the 32mm water pipes have a nice set of twin, well-formed sealing ridges at each end and these were all OK. However, the fittings at the heads and the "Y" fitting in the center only have a single sealing ridge at each hose connection that isn't as large in diameter/width as the ones on the pipes (nor as well-formed) -- all four of these connections showed signs of weeping/leaking when cold.

The constant tension clamps are a little wider than the stock screw-style clamps (14.2 mm vs 12.8 mm), and I felt that they were a little too wide to fit properly between the existing twin sealing rings on water pipe ends so I stayed with the narrower stock screw clamps there. But the constant-tension clamps are very well suited IMO for the single sealing ridge fittings and are a big improvement.

Consequently, I've got 4 of the constant tension clamps and ~22" of the 32mm silicone hose left over (I used ~12.2" total of hose for the four couplings). I'd be glad to sell the lot for the $40 I paid so shoot me a PM if you're interested. Below are some shots of the parts and the installation:

 

Just reposting some jpegs that were lost from this thread:
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