I hose clamp= $150.00

[Alfonzy]

Beware of cheap hose clamps!....
I have owned and operated cars and trucks for over 34 years and have never had this happen to me, or hear tell of it....coolant hose clamps that just break right across the band! It happend one storming rain/snow evening[of course] My engine was cold , just a 1/4 mile from where I started up. the clamp that holds the upper rad. hose onto the water pump split[and stayed loosely around the hose] right acrooss the band. Don't they have any standards of quality for these things? i.e SAE? I replaced all hoses and clamps about 3 years 30,000 Miles ago. These were from either Advance or A zone. ANY COMMENTS?

 

[moribundman]

I use only ABA or NORMA hose clamps. They are equally well-made for all practical purposes (ABA clamps are better). I've never had one fail or damage a hose. ABA clamps cost more.

 

[Quest]

I use tridon clamps (that's right, the same company that makes wiper blades). No failures so far.

Q.

 

[GeaugaFletcher]

Advance, AwfulZone, PepBoys and several others are IMO tantamount to WalMart or McDonalds when it comes to shoddy merchandise. NAPA may have quirks, but the parts' quality is significantly better.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Quest
I use tridon clamps (that's right, the same company that makes wiper blades). No failures so far.

Q.
We use those at my shop. They are terrible! We buy them by the box @$.18 cents per piece and end up throwing 1/2 away because they either strip or split. Ideal clamps are much better but my boss won't buy em.

 

[tom slick]

I like ideal and breeze for regular worm screw clamps.

 

[Steve S]

Where were they made?

 

[NYEngineer]

I like Ideal.

 

[alreadygone]

Although they require special "pliers" to romove and replace, I've come to love the spring steel clamps that come OE on most US made vehicles and many imports. ALLWAYS the correct pressure, cannot be overtightened. Guess they'd rust away up in Yankee country, but by that time it'd probably be time for new hoses anyway.

As far as for worm clamps, never had a problem with IDEAL.

Bob

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Where were they made?


I just bought a couple packs for up to 1.5" from Advance Auto Parts. They are made in USA.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
I use only ABA or NORMA hose clamps. They are equally well-made for all practical purposes (ABA clamps are better). I've never had one fail or damage a hose. ABA clamps cost more.


ABA is now part of NORMA as of 2007. I didn't know that until I visited abaofamerica.com tonight.

 

[ms21043]

Hose clamps range in quality from cheap junk you find in wal mart all the way to stuff like this: http://www.berkeleypoint.com/products/titanium/hoseclamps.html

There must be an application for these in a spaceship or something.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I use only ABA or NORMA hose clamps. They are equally well-made for all practical purposes (ABA clamps are better). I've never had one fail or damage a hose. ABA clamps cost more.


ABA is now part of NORMA as of 2007. I didn't know that until I visited abaofamerica.com tonight.


I see. The Germans bought out the Swedes?

 

[Shannow]

Years ago, I used some cheap clamps. Top hose clamp broke (1 punched through "thread" snapped on one side). Hose piddled water out badly.

Agree that Norma and Tridon have never caused me an issue

 

[Tosh]

Keep spares with car. Or replace with OEM clamps. Spring clamps are awesome!
What's the $150? Towing?

 

[eljefino]

Spring clamps don't rust-- well they surface rust but the metal is thicker and better.

My saturn comes with "fuel injection" style clamps with an inner spring and outer worm. The spring helps keep tension on during temperature extremes and IMO is better than a tighten-once worm clamp.

If I reuse a hose and a factory squeeze-apart spring clamp I rotate the clamp so it's making a new impression on the rubber. Figure that adds a little tightness.

 

[moribundman]

I have a bunch of ABA clamps in various sizes that I haven't used yet. On the ones that I've used, I've never seen one develop any signs of rust. I wonder if they have some kind or coating. The metal is a very dark grey compared to other steel clamps. I don't remember any rust issues with Norma clamps, but they have a regular steel color and the band is perforated as opposed to the solid band on the ABA. I hope Norma will keep making the ABA-style clamps.

 

[benjamming]

Where can you find ABA clamps? I didn't see a link last night.

 

[rriddle3]

This thread is the first time I've ever heard anybody sing the praise of OEM spring clamps. Before, I've only seen them cussed and discussed.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Where can you find ABA clamps? I didn't see a link last night.


I don't think we are supposed to link to Web sites that sell stuff. Go to westmarine.com. Then type "ABA" in their search box.

By the way, they say ABA clamps are made from Type 316 stainless steel.