I was getting ready to replace my radiator and hoses (the 3 big ones) when I found a thread somewhere stating that using worm-drive hose clamps is certain doom for a Toyota, and only the OEM spring clamps should ever be used. How true is this? I'm an extreme cheapass and don't want to shell out any more money than needed.

 

Screw drive clamps are OK if you readjust them once in a while, especially in the days and weeks after their first installation.

Careful though, even some of the supposedly high quality 'all stainless steel' worm clamps are really Chinese slave labor junk.

The factory spring clamps are better, because they maintain their clamping force without any further attention.

I always use the factory spring clamps unless they are damaged.

 

Is there a happy medium, maybe some clamps that are 20 bucks and work well? I unfortunately have a mix of spring type and worm drive clamps on there now. Here's the bottom of the truck, does that lower hose look normal? Either way I have a replacement. I also don't like the green crystals on the radiator.

 

Looks like that hose is ready to pop. The clamp looks
OK though

Green smutz on the rad is bad. Sign of seepage. When they look like that they are usually rotten and weak. Lucky for you the hottest of the season is over.

Your truck looks like it needs quite a bit of TLC.

 

I got a good deal on it, but it has had a hard life. Odometer stuck at 350, front end had been smashed and pulled back out. See the oil stains in my avatar. Trying to do the best I can without just dumping money in.

The factory radiator is unfortunately shot. Coolant seeps out from both tanks and the upper neck is cracked. I soldered the holes but the metal just crumbles. I was able to get a new radiator (AL+plastic tank) and all three hoses for $90. I guess I will just reuse the clamps, and if there's a leak down the road invest in some better ones.

Also, the replacement "U pipe to water pump" hose is about a quarter inch bigger in OD than the other two that go to the radiator. Is that normal?

 

I wouldn't use unlined worm gear clamps, but I like the lined ones. I bought quite a few from Napa. Napa is a good source for lined clamps, especially smaller sizes. I found some large ones, 1 1/4 to 2" hose, on Amazon. Ideal Tridon pn: 6532E, they are ss and made in Mexico. My original spring clamps seemed a little weak. It probably would have been ok to continue using them.

 

Thanks for the input. Something like this?




Would these be better? Anyone try them?

 

It's up to you, but the factory spring clamps are only about $8 90467-38001 . http://www.toyotapartsoverstock.com/...rimLevel=18292

I think the off-the-shelf worm-drive clamps are MORE reliable than the factory clamps, but what do I know?

 

Your lower hose is ready to pop. I would check the hoses under the plenum as well.

I use Gates Rubber hose PN# 20801, around $10. It comes is a "S" shaped form, but when you cut the lower part off, it looks identical to the original and has the larger opening coming off of the water pump and the smaller end for the horseshoe pipe.

Gates PN#20801, just cut off where my finger is at. A lot cheaper then the dealer.


Here it is cut to length and on. I need to get some new hose clamps to finish the job.

 

I'm sure that the spring clamps were used during manufacture because of their ease of installation; virtually all foreign and domestic builders use them to this day. If there was any question about their efficacy in service, The engineers would have made changes by now.
Other than quality issues with newer worm clamps, their main shortcomings are that unless they are retightened after new hoses take their set, they may not remain tight enough. And on the other end of the stick, hoses may be easily damaged by their overtightening.

I have never had a hose leak, or come off where a spring clamp in good condition was used, and I never have to check on their tightness.

 

Totally agree with that. With those hoses it's just a matter of time before you're on the side of the road with the hood up, sooner than later.

Myself and another 22re owner I met can confirm the 22RE upper hose they sell at NAPA doesn't fit worth a damn. If you don't want factory try Autozone or Oreilly's for that one. I think the one that fits good is a Goodyear hose, Autozone house brand I believe.



Gates PN# 20801 Water pump to the horseshoe pipe.
Thanks for the tip Terry.

 

^ Those are pretty good clamps and stores sold them a lot in the 80's then they started selling mostly the thin garbage clamps.
I used ABA clamps (made in Sweden) at my old job and liked them a lot, strong and very well made. Definitely more expensive than the Ideal-Tridon Lined/Solid clamps.

 

Just curious what kind of failure does using worm drive clamps bring about ??

Most times the factory spring clamps are long gone on most of the Toyota`s I see.

If they are on I will keep using them.

Worm drive clamps get replaced with new hoses.

 

I've read that the worm drive clamps will smash the internal structure of a hose, and crack a plastic radiator's necks. I think I will give it a shot though, it sounds like the rumors of worm drive clamps destroying Toyotas is greatly exaggerated, and I can't really justify dropping another 50 bucks on fancy clamps.

 

Ok that does make sense to a degree but I have no plastic radiators .

Some people use a 1" impact to tighten the clamps I would venture .

 

I prefer the clamp style but if I don't have one and need one right away, I will get a worm type from my local parts store and they work great for me, yet to have one to leak and they are cheap enough to replace new.

 

Spring clamp provides constant pressure on the hose as temperature changes and expansion/contraction occurs. The band type clamp maintains constant size of the band, but as the hose expands (swells) the pressure on the hose increases. I'd prefer the spring type, but my old 22Re has the worm drive type and they work OK. just don't overtighten.

I've thought about trying some from McMaster-Carr online catalogue which may be cheaper than Toyota-marketed componenets

 

Yeah, I guess I will just reuse the ones on there. I'm having no luck finding anything that will be better than normal worm drive clamps that isn't 30-60 bucks. What kills it is it looks like the water pump hose is a little bigger than all the rest, any generic kits I get that will fit all the other hoses won't fit that one.

 

Oh, well.

 

Since I would need 6 of them, it will be $57 shipped to my door. I know they will be better than the worm clamps, but I'm not sure about $57 better.