So, what are some decent brands to get these hoses from in 2026? I don't want to buy kits. And how thick of the wall is thick enough?

Thanks

 

I did all vibrant for the 3.5mm. And really so long as it doesn't collapse when you bed ~90deg, you're fine.

 

IMHO, it should be premium hose that is platinum cured with a thicker wall. This type of hose is more resistant to cracking, has better bending ability and better longevity. There are many companies that sell it. I used Verocious Motorsports and bought their Platinum Cured Silicone Vacuum Hose - 3.5mm Blue (By the Foot).
Mike

 

Turbosmart has nice quality silicone hose.

 

I used evil energy silicone hose on my FD when I went through the boost control and emissions system, it is thick wall and available on amazon. I've used this hose on my other cars as well going back to 2022 and I haven't had any issues, I'll amend this statement if I ever do. I used it for windshield washer hose on my DD wagon, seems irrelevant but in this car the windshield washers run over the hot side of the engine, the turbo is inches away behind its heat shield. Stock lines got cooked rock hard and broke off within months, the silicone has held up for years. The lines get hot enough that if after I use the windshield washers during a drive steam and droplets spit out of the nozzles as the hoses boil dry

 

IMHO, his why one must make sure the silicone hose is platinum-cured. I would not buy it, if it is not. This is the AI responses, which I agree with, and I have verified in the past with other articles.


"Platinum-cured silicone offers higher purity, better clarity, superior tensile strength, and wider temperature resistance, making it ideal for medical, food, and sensitive applications, while peroxide-cured silicone is generally cheaper and better for long-term gasketing and high-pressure pumping due to its lower compression set, though it can leave residues and has lower purity. The key difference lies in their catalysts (platinum vs. peroxide), with platinum leaving virtually no byproducts (addition cure) and peroxide releasing some (free radical cure). "

"Longevity: Highly resistant to degradation from UV, extreme heat, and repeated sterilization like autoclaving."

Our engines and under hood temperatures are similar to repeated autoclaving (obviously not as hot but similar in repeated high heat cycles).

Mike