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Hi Folks,
I am currently changing the radiator hoses on my RX8.
It took me 2.5 hours to get them off, (Im a mechanic) if I ever meet the guy who invented those cursed hose clamps (the ones you take off with pliers) I will repeatedly punch him in the face.
Could they have invented a worse kind of hose clamp ?
What was wrong with screw type clamps ?
They dont leak, they take seconds to take off and dont take hours to remove !
I figured 4 hours to change 3 hoses would be enough, but 2.5 hours in just to get them off and then a good hour to clean all the pipes and replace the thermostat and it started getting dark, Ill have to finish it tomorrow.
I bought the tridon stainless hose clamps that dont have the thread cut all the way through the band so that they dont damage the hoses once tightened.
Every hose I could reach I replaced and turned the heads so that I have access to them.
My hands have a bunch of cuts etc too, I though the FD was a pain in the butt to work on, it seems the RX8 requires magical tiny hands to get to everything even after you take half the car off to get to whatever it is you are changing.
I got them at my local spare parts shop, I cant remember how much they were but they were cheap, maybe a dollar or 2 each.
These are the ones I got but I get trade discount from my spare parts guy so got them pretty cheap. Tridon Regular Hose Clamp Pack 16mm 24mm 10 Pieces MP0AP | eBay
Also I finished the hoses off today, the car cruises at about 78-82 degrees C on a warm day (about 29 degrees C) and when I give it it doesnt go above 90.
That mishimoto thermostat is great, opens at 76 degrees C, the car runs much cooler overall and cools down much faster after a hard drive, it comes right back down to 72-80 degrees C when cruising again.
Im confident I can take it to a track day now without it overheating unlike a week ago when it would hit 102 degrees C after revving it out in second and 3rd.
All about the tools. And they use constant tension clamps for a reason (overtighten a SS worm gear clamp on a plastic radiator nipple and you will see why). But of course you can use worm gear clamps if you wish.
The problem is the old hoses swell and its a PITA to get those clamps over the swollen part.
Combine that with the fact that there is no space to work on anything in the car without removing half the car = 2.5 hours !
Anyway, job done, the car runs much cooler now with the new thermostat and fan mod kit, very happy :D
Also, those clamps in the above ebay listing that I put in my previous post are the type I used but not the size, check to make sure you get the correct size for the hoses you need to replace.
11-16-2015, 05:15 AM
