Lower radiator hose - no hose clamp?

[71Rcode]

I flushed my coolant this weekend (111k) on my '01 5.4 and was going to replace the radiator hoses (original) when I noticed there is no clamp connecting the bottom radiator hose to the radiator. It looks like some kind of snap ring.

How do I get this bad boy off? Is it some kind of quick disconnect? Has anyone gone back with a new hose / hose clamp?

Oh yeah - any recommendations on where to buy hoses? Was going to check O'Reilley or Autozone but haven't yet. Trying to avoid junk! Thanks much.

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

They are generally a one-time use clamp removed by using vise grips if they're the kind i think you're describing, open up your vise grips, or pliers, and close up loosening the clamp to allow you to go to work. alternatively, they're carefully cut off and replaced with regular hose clamps, two if you have room on the bib.

Most of the major auto stores have the hoses and i've found that keeping them clean and occasionally wiping w/some type of protectant keeps them supple for many years.

PanHandler.

 

[71Rcode]

Thanks for the response, 1997. I just couldn't tell how to remove it. It looked like a wire snap-ring of sorts that I had to "open" up to loosen, and that I could easily unsprung the thing (i.e. one-time use). Why would Ford design it this way? Weird.

Was just thinking it wouldn't hurt to replace a 13-year old coolant hose, you know? Don't want to get stranded for being lazy!

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

good deal!

PanHandler.

 

[JTKustoms]

Our lower radiator hoses seem to be a special order part at most auto stores I've seen. It's a very strange design that sucks IMO. Not only is the clamp/connector design strange but the hose itself has smaller hoses coming off it I thought too

 

[Milwaukee]

I forget what name of that thingy. It like electric wiring shrink.

U put that on hose then use heater gun it shrink. I HATE THOSE. Problem is how you remove them without cut clamp on hose. They should have use spring clip like van and superduty use them.

 

[MeanGreen]

I just recently replaced swapped my little dinky radiator with one for a 5.4L and ran into this problem with the bottom hose. I just cut the hose behind the "heat shrink" or whatever it was then cut it off itself. Had plenty of hose to shove onto the radiator and clamp down with a hose clamp.

 

[stamp11127]

Those are heat shrink band clamps. Good idea on the drawing board but poor in practice. They are also used on big trucks - I just love them to death.
Use a new blade in your knife and carefully cut the band if you want to reuse the hose. Cut from the outside of the band to the middle a few times then snap it with a screwdriver.

 

[71Rcode]

Nice ideas, guys. That helps a lot!

 

[chucks97expy]

Sorry guys but from what your saying I can re'use the lower hose by cutting off that twist clamp? I just replaced the radiator and man that lower hose was a pain in the @## to get off. I can only imagine trying to get the rest of the hoses off that all connect together down there to replace that one. So if I cut it right behind the twist clamp I can slide it back onto my lower port on the radiator and use a regular clamp?

 

[BrandonB]

Yes you can use a regular clamp. The replacement hose for mine i've been looking at from Autozone is just a standard hose with no "quick disconnect".

The trick to getting them off is to lift the little tab, and twist 45 degrees and pulling back. Sounds great but mine wouldn't budge. I had to cut the ring and slice the hose a bit to get it off. Hoping I have enough extra hose to cut the part I sliced off and put it on with a worm gear clamp.

 

[nsperf]

in 98 or 99 they did go to the heat shrink hose clamp. One person asked why. There are actually 2 main reasons. The steel wire and and squeeze band type clamps we most associate have a tendency to loose their tension over time. This inherently can cause a leak. Since these are expected to go 150K without coolant service you need to ensure coolant does not escape. The heat shrink ones do seem to loose tension especially under the extreme changes in temperature they may see.

second reason is cost. Plastic heat shrink is cheaper and the installation of said clamp is cheaper. for most we see this as a few cents but for a 100,000 plus units it all adds up.

 

[chucks97expy]

I replaced it! The lower hose was a pain in the A$$ to get off but I did as some of you guys had said and carefully cut through the plastic clamp. I was able to get the twist lock part off as well. Don't know if I should have reused the twist lock part or not but I did. Put it back on separately and then slid the hose back over the twist lock and used a screw clamp. I also used some Black RTV, just in case I appreciate all the info!! many thanks

 

[Mark Smith]

hit this problem today... printed instructions on the lower rad hose say "... to remove bend back rotate hose pull apart..." WOW, I sure miss the "Better Idea" days!! My other Ford is a 57 Fairlane, so I thought "no big deal...remove the radiator, check for any leaks, replace..." Not so, grasshopper... no clamp on the lower hose...!!! This idea must have come from a young engineer... who has never worked on a real car and probably owns no hand tools that are made in the USA, not China!! Where's my box cutter!!

Mark

 

[RonB1964]

The lower hose has an alignment mark on the hose that indexes to a mark on the radiator. 1st disconnect the hose from the coolant tank and engine block, then rotate the hose 45 degrees in one direction or the other, then pull straight out. It's easiest to do with the radiator removed imho, which only takes about 10 minutes to remove. Once the lower hose is removed, you will see an indexed spring clip and 2 orings.