Silicone Couplers and T-Bolt Clamps Options

[Defgeph]

Brian, chill out man. No need to get aggrivated. Don't let other people opinions get to you.

Edit: I get my clamps from a local speed shop. I'm not telling you which ones though.

[Dr_Tweak]

Woah, Brian, dude, chillax man. T-bolt clamps, as you can see, use an actual bolt and nut (usually an aircraft nut) to tighten the clamp down. These are expensive industrial clamps that are used for very high pressure systems. The worm gear clamps, even the BEST quality ones, don't even come close to what a t-bolt clamp can do in terms of strength. A t-bolt you can just keep tightening and it will just keep getting tighter until it crushes the pipe, if you push it too far. On the other hand, even the best worm gear clamps will strip if you tighten them even a little bit too much.

I normally always use t-bolt clamps, but on Fastbird's Celica, the intercooler kit that I bought came with a set of clamps. The ones that were included were TERRIBLE quality worm gear clamps, and I finally had to remove every single one of them because one pipe after another was blowing off. I replace an entire side with t-bolts, and then I ran out... so I went down and bought the highest quality worm gear clamps I could find. Even then, they couldn't be tightened down enough to stop hoses from blowing off. (This problem was partly caused by the rubber connectors we had been sent, which we also replaced).

Bottom line is, a combo of good silicone (not rubber) connectors, and high quality worm gear clamps will work fine most of the time. But NOTHING comes close to a t-bolt clamp!

-Doc

[presure2]

screw type worm drive clamps are the least desireable, and most likely to ruin your couplers of the group.
Worm-Drive Hose and Tube Clamps with Safety Screw
A raised safety collar around the slotted screw prevents your screwdriver from damaging hose and tube. Clamps are reusable. Band and housing are Type 201 stainless steel, which has good corrosion resistance. Band is 9/16" wide and 0.022" thick. Screw is yellow zinc-plated steel, which has fair corrosion resistance. Tighten with a slotted screwdriver or 3/8" hex nutdriver. Temperature range is -40° to +375° F. Meet SAE J1508 and Fed. Spec. WW-C-440B.
Note: When choosing a clamp, measure the outside diameter of your hose with the fitting installed.

from the hightempsilicone website:
Why cant I just use regular worm gear clamps on HTS hoses?
Silicone compounds are actually very soft. When using a regular worm gear clamp you may damage the hose during installation. When tightening down your clamps on the hose, the silicone can actually "extrude" through the slots shearing the silicone cover. This extrusion of the silicone cover can cause hose failure and immediate loss of boost. Liner clamps have been specifically designed for silicone hose. There is a protective 1 piece stainless liner that is placed on the inside of the clamps preventing the silicone from touching the gear. You do not need to use liner clamps on any other rubber hoses because the organic rubber compounds are a lot stronger than silicone.

the problem i have with the worm drive clamp is that the more you tighten it, the more it will cut into your couplers.

t bolt clamps work great, as long as you dont get a generic version of them.
again, from the high temp silicone site:
Our Stainless Steel T-bolt clamps have been designed for today's high performance vehicle in mind. T-bolt clamps offer the protection against “blow-off“ without damaging the hose. High Temp Silicone T-bolt clamps provide higher tensile strength, durability and corrosion resistance over typical worm gear clamps. When Installed side by side with worm gear clamps, our T-bolt clamps provide twice the band tension with the same amount of installation torque!

HTS Stainless Steel T-bolts have been manufactured out of 300 series stainless steel to provide a worry free installation.

Applications:Medium to Heavy duty, high-pressure turbochargers, intercooler, and cooling systems.


constant tension hose clamps work just as well if not better than the t-bolts, and can usually be found for less than the t-bolts at a place like mcmastercarr

A revolutionary clamp that reacts to changes in hose system by actually increasing or decreasing its own diameter as the system expands or contracts. The Constant torque clamp is the answer for any system that is experiencing blow offs and leakage.

If you are looking for the ultimate clamp that is truly install and forget, this is the one!

Clamping Range 2.75" to 3.63"

to answer your question fastbird,
i bought all my reducers, a length of hose, and t-bolts from www.hightempsilicone.com . Jim, (the owner of the company) was very helpfull, and, while they were NOT cheap, i feel like i got what i paid for.
i have not had a single leak from any of my piping connections since the day i installed them.

my 2 cents

[pimped6gen]

Check your pm's...I have a bunch of turbonetics t bolt clamps, never used for sale.

[CilverSeliST205]

www.atpturbo.com

-Doc

I highly recommend against buying from this place, i ordered a set of 8 t-bolts 2.5" and they send me 4.5" and after quite an argument with them they decided that they will replace them but i have to cover the shipping ($11 one way so i have to pay $33 just for their stupid mistake) that place is horrible do not buy from them.

[Fastbird]

www.atpturbo.com

-Doc

I highly recommend against buying from this place, i ordered a set of 8 t-bolts 2.5" and they send me 4.5" and after quite an argument with them they decided that they will replace them but i have to cover the shipping ($11 one way so i have to pay $33 just for their stupid mistake) that place is horrible do not buy from them.

Things can happen with any company. I personally just had a very easy and hassle free transaction with them last week. I ordered 10 2.25" couplers, one 2.5" coupler, ten 2.5" t-bolts, and two 2.75" t-bolts and everything arrived just fine without any hassles.

[CilverSeliST205]

Things can happen with any company. I personally just had a very easy and hassle free transaction with them last week. I ordered 10 2.25" couplers, one 2.5" coupler, ten 2.5" t-bolts, and two 2.75" t-bolts and everything arrived just fine without any hassles.

Well you got lucky any company that is serious about its customers takes responsibility for its own mistakes - i work for a company like that... as far as atpturbo well they are getting a block on my debit card and middle finger salute.

[zipstrips]

i just ordered some SS tbolts and 3 reducers.. the prices are not what i remember last time i looked this stuff up!

[Fastbird]

Things can happen with any company. I personally just had a very easy and hassle free transaction with them last week. I ordered 10 2.25" couplers, one 2.5" coupler, ten 2.5" t-bolts, and two 2.75" t-bolts and everything arrived just fine without any hassles.

Well you got lucky any company that is serious about its customers takes responsibility for its own mistakes - i work for a company like that... as far as atpturbo well they are getting a block on my debit card and middle finger salute.

I'm going to be shameless. I ordered a 45* coupler and 3" T-Bolt from ATP on monday and they just came in today fine and dandy.

[lagos]

if you guys east coast want a really good place with very fast shipping, try this
http://stores.ebay.com/Verocious-Motorspor...Q3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

they are a big company located in deleware. anything i order before 3pm, gets to my door the next moring. its great if you really need some parts in a hurry. i normally call them up and deal with them over the phone instead of ebay for the fastest processing.

[Fastbird]

if you guys east coast want a really good place with very fast shipping, try this
http://stores.ebay.com/Verocious-Motorspor...Q3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

they are a big company located in deleware. anything i order before 3pm, gets to my door the next moring. its great if you really need some parts in a hurry. i normally call them up and deal with them over the phone instead of ebay for the fastest processing.

Good link!!!! Thanks man!

[southwest2118]

www.atpturbo.com

-Doc

I highly recommend against buying from this place, i ordered a set of 8 t-bolts 2.5" and they send me 4.5" and after quite an argument with them they decided that they will replace them but i have to cover the shipping ($11 one way so i have to pay $33 just for their stupid mistake) that place is horrible do not buy from them.

same thing happened to me ....... i think its a bunch of kids running the place.

so to recap atpturbo sells crap and thier customer support.........ummm i dont think they have support?

[CilverSeliST205]

same thing happened to me ....... i think its a bunch of kids running the place.

so to recap atpturbo sells crap and thier customer support.........ummm i dont think they have support?

haha my conversation on the phone with french accent lady

(...)
Lady: we need to verify your card# to cover shipping fees

ME: why do i have to pay for your mistakes? i did not order 4.5" claps why the hell are you charging me for shipping?

lady: The invoice says that you ordered 4.5

ME: the invoice is wrong i am positive i did not order 4.5, how much is the shipping anyways?

Lady: $12

ME: whaaaaat? first invoice says $10 i paid $8 to send it back to you, 2.5 will weight less so should cost be smaller ?!?

Lady: ok i will give it to you for $10

ME: "You will give it to me for $10" ?!? are you even in position to make these decisions? or are you just sales representative ? nevermind I will contact your manager shortly...

Lady: But sir we.. I...

ME: phew... customer service my ass [CLICK!]

[Punisher]

http://stores.ebay.com/Verocious-Motorspor...Q3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

Holy **** are those guys expensive...

This post has been edited by Punisher: Aug 16, 2006 - 9:09 PM

[CilverSeliST205]

http://stores.ebay.com/Verocious-Motorspor...Q3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

Holy **** are those guys expensive...

For 3.50 a piece not really expenisve, unless you want to use exhaust clamps on your intercooler but btw my replacement for 4.5" was sent from atpturbo yesterday and GUESS WHAT ? THEIR 2.5" CLAMPS DONT FIT AROUND A 2.5" PIPE WITH A COUPLER ON IT !!!! $40 ON JUST SHIPPING DOWN THE DRAIN

[playr158]

well you would think 2.5" diameter doesn't fit over 2.5" diameter + some, probably woulda rocked 3"

[presure2]

http://stores.ebay.com/Verocious-Motorspor...Q3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

Holy **** are those guys expensive...

not really. you get what you pay for.
all the silicone hose that guy has listed is made by hightemp silicone, VERY high quality stuff.
Jim, the owner of the company, is a very good guy to deal with. i would highly recommend them to anyone looking for high quality silicone hose.

[Fastbird]

For 3.50 a piece not really expenisve, unless you want to use exhaust clamps on your intercooler but btw my replacement for 4.5" was sent from atpturbo yesterday and GUESS WHAT ? THEIR 2.5" CLAMPS DONT FIT AROUND A 2.5" PIPE WITH A COUPLER ON IT !!!! $40 ON JUST SHIPPING DOWN THE DRAIN

Honestly man, you should have known that. I wouldn't fault ATP at all for this. A Silicone coupler is what, 1/8" thickor so, which means that you're essentially adding 1/4" to the outer diameter of the pipe.

[CilverSeliST205]

For 3.50 a piece not really expenisve, unless you want to use exhaust clamps on your intercooler but btw my replacement for 4.5" was sent from atpturbo yesterday and GUESS WHAT ? THEIR 2.5" CLAMPS DONT FIT AROUND A 2.5" PIPE WITH A COUPLER ON IT !!!! $40 ON JUST SHIPPING DOWN THE DRAIN

Honestly man, you should have known that. I wouldn't fault ATP at all for this. A Silicone coupler is what, 1/8" thickor so, which means that you're essentially adding 1/4" to the outer diameter of the pipe.

Yea right.... i bought t-bolts from 3 other places in 2.5 and they opened to fit 2.75 if not 3"... these guys, on the other hand, have really short thread and almost no bend at the bolt which is sh!tty, not only that but their customer service sucks and makes you feel like you being scammed (look at the phone conversation above), not only that they also send me 4.5" the first time ??? and charged me for shipping each time ?!?

Worst company i have done bussines with

[Fastbird]

Want to see something funny??? READ THE FINE PRINT UNDER THE PICTURE!!! This is NOT ATP's fault.

http://www.atpturbo.com/Merchant2/merchant...tegory_Code=CLA