These are what you’re talking about?
This looks like a good idea. I will have to see if I can find these for sale anywhere.
Yes, those are the ones. They also make these, but they don’t look very practical for inside a cramped engine compartment.
If I’m ever at a self-pick car wrecker, I always grab a few spring clamps off Subarus or Toyotas in their various sizes. Just don’t feel ready for life without a bunch in my tool drawers.
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I use pliers to hold the spring clamps for positioning but there is probably a more suitable tool for that.
Mechanics have a spring clamp tool kit.
Tester
That looks like a good idea, and I like owning all the tools needed to do the job right.
These are nice for the DIY person because they handle just about any type of spring clamp; wire, flat band in various styles, etc After years of frustration using standard pliers on these clamps, I bought these specialty pliers and never regretted it-
I looked for diy’er spring clamp tools while I was in Harbor Freight the other day, but they don’t seem to offer that product.
I prefer the Ideal brand of screw-type clamps. Hardware stores have that brand, auto stores usually have some off-brand similar clamp that I avoid.
Always thought the spring clamps were OEM because they are faster to install on an assembly line, compared to screw-type clamps. But maybe they have some long term advantages?
As a rubber hose shrinks, deforms, or otherwise deteriorates, the spring clamp will contract along with it, preventing leaks. I have seen them rust through, but that’s rare, and they certainly are more robust than worm-drive clamps.
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I bought that long reach one for the lower hose at an or someplace for about $30. Never used it though and the quality was not great.
“As a rubber hose shrinks, deforms, or otherwise deteriorates, the spring clamp will contract along with it, preventing leaks. I have seen them rust through, but that’s rare, and they certainly are more robust than worm-drive clamps.”
Good quality OEM ones, maybe. Would I be wrong to be cautious about aftermarket ones? The nice thing about worm-drive is that you have some control over them. I am not so confident in a lot of aftermarket metal products.
Their advantages accrue mostly to the manufacturer of the vehicle:
Faster to install
Cheaper to buy
Spring clamps allow for thermal expansion of the connectors, the coolant in the upper radiator hose ranges from below zero to 230 F. If you wrap your hand around a hot radiator hose, you will notice the outside of the hose is not nearly as hot as the coolant inside. The radiator connectors are hotter than the hose or clamp, different rates of expansion.
I’ve found that also. The worm clamps tend to loosen over time, need to be re-snugged. Not sure if the clamp is enlarging, or hose diameter is shrinking. I still routinely use worm-drive clamps even if I have to re-tighten from time to time b/c they are easy to use, needing only a hex socket tool to tighten, and they can be installed with the hose already attached. I usually retain the spring clamps for the larger hoses though.
These kind of rules no longer work for me as I’ve weakened with age.
Fernco recommends 60 inch-pounds. None of my torque wrenches go down that low so I bought a special tool.