Well I was working on putting in my new black magic electric fan and my new radiator, so I figured I'd put my new radiator hoses in so they would fit my application better than the stock ones because of my S5 swap.

Anyway, the hoses I got were some braided stainless steel ones. I got the nice hose clamps and everything for them. I knew that I had to cut them to size, so I gave a guestemate on the size and he cut them with something that looked like a die grinder.

The problem was that there were springs on the radiator hoses, so I had to trim them to length, but I couldnt see how I could do it without removing the springs.

I looked at my old radiator hoses, and noticed that they dont have springs in them, and either did the ones in my dads car either. I asked a few of my friends and my dad and they said I dotn need the springs. So I went ahead and removed them. I then went on to install the hoses and noticed that without the springs in the braided stainless steel lining with enough pressure would move around the hose.

After a bunch of struggle I tried to get the hoses on, but without the springs, the hoses woulk kink at every bend!!! I had to come to grips with reality at this point. By removing the springs, I had ruined the hoses.

I'm going to have to get new hoses. BUT i dont want to **** these ones up. First of all, what it the best way to cut the hoses. None of the methods for cutting the lines I used for my -10AN oil cooler lines seemes t work for the looser woven radiator hoses.

How do I properly determine the length that I need the hoses? With the large bends that the springs create its impossible to tell how long the hoses need to be unitll they are on there.

Also, how do I trim the spring inside the hose?? I dont see anyway of doing it without taking out the spring and by that point its impossible to get it back in.

Lastly, is there a better source for braided stainless steel radiator hoeses? Mine didnt seem to be very good quality to begin with. I'd like to find something that has the braded stainless steel woven on as tight as it is on AN lines.

Thanks guys.

 

bump

 

well i know on my dads f100 the springs in the hoses as smaller than the hose i.d so the spring will go in and out as needed. i remove the springs and trim the hose.... then trim the spring 1" shorter. you might try summit racing.com or jegs.com, nopi.com

 

any suggestions on how to mesure the length I need with accounting for the bends?

Or how about the propper way of cutting the hoses?