As a car owner, it must be your top priority to ensure that your car runs well for as long as possible. To achieve this, you must get your vehicle serviced routinely and should keep an eye on the components that may require regular maintenance.
Vehicle maintenance includes changing the tires, the oil, and even the wipers after every few months. Along with these essential requirements, you must also monitor on the inner parts, like your automobile hoses and hose clamps, since they play a major role in the smooth running of your car.
But what exactly is an automotive hose clamp, and how does it benefit your vehicle? Read this article to find out!
What are Automotive Hose and Hose Clamps?
Hoses are utilized throughout the car’s engine; the brake system uses a hose, the heater uses a hose, the cooling system uses a hose, and the radiator? You guessed right, it also uses a hose!
Hoses are employed whenever the need to transfer fluids between two points arises. Since the fluid in these pipes is under high pressure, hose clamps are used to counteract this pressure and help secure the hose to the nipples or inlet.
Types of Automotive Hose Clamps
Having talked about the importance of hoses in automobiles, it is time we go into detail about the different types of hose clamps available and the features that make them the best match for your vehicle.
Spring Clamps (Constant-Tension Clamps)
As the name suggests, spring clamps keep objects tightly in position by using the constant tension present in springs. Commonly called pinch clamps, these hose clamps have two handles and a jaw joined together using a steel spring.
Finished in a flexible design, spring clamps can be expanded easily using hose clamp pliers to secure positioning. They are available in different shapes and sizes, so they are useful with an engine coolant hose, small repair jobs, and fastening multiple parts together!
Next, let’s talk about what the tension clamps are made of. Constructed from a reinforced nylon band, these clamps have remarkable strength and promise to last for a long time without breaking. Not only this, the wires are super easy to assemble and offer top speed, promising a quicker and effortless job!
However, spring clamps can sometimes worsen the condition of an already damaged hose. Since they continue to apply pressure on the hose, no matter how soft, swollen, or damaged it is, the quality of your hose degrades with time until it becomes completely useless.
Despite this flaw, spring clamps are widely used in cooling systems and repair jobs because of their efficient working mechanism and affordable cost!
Worm-drive clamps
First created in early 1921, the worm drive is one of the oldest yet most versatile hose clamps. They are also called Jubilee clips and are the most popular type of clamps used in automobiles and solid fittings.
Although they have a rather confusing name, their working mechanism is simple and effective. Worm clamps feature a series of slots alongside a screw and some threads. These threads hold the slots while the screw is being tightened, which ultimately tightens the band present on the hose!
Jubilee clips can contain either a single metal strip or a circular band to hold the hose securely. This is then attached with a worm gear on the other side using worm-gear clips. There are multiple worm-gear clips, including those that have beveled edges and incisions on the metal band. The first type helps lower the chances of cutting or scratching the hose, whereas screw-tightening clips are the easiest ones to use.
Given all these properties, it is time we shine some light on what purpose the worm-drive clamps are best suited for. With their ability to grip a pliable, soft hose on solid spigots and rigid circular tubes, a worm clamp is excellent at solid binding fittings on flexible hoses!
Despite its simpler mechanism and versatile nature, a spring clamp is still a better choice than a worm drive. This is because worm clamps are prone to cutting, scratching, and even fraying the hose with adjustment slots. Along with this, these clamps cannot apply enough force to eliminate leaking or make up for the shrinking rubber of the hose.
T-bolt clamps
Third, we have the most durable clamps that offer all the security that spring clamps promise and much more! T-bolt or racing clamps utilize a T-bolt and hex nut to shut all hose connections containing water and air.
Manufactured from high quality stainless steel, T-bolt clamps have a long lifetime and are not easily damaged by impacts. In addition, these hose clips are straightforward to assemble, use and take off.
Remember to save up before purchasing these clamps because of their relatively high cost and availability at only select tool stores.
Applications of an Automotive Hose Clamp
As discussed above, a hose clamp is an integral component of any vehicle system. This accessory intends to help lock and secure any hose configuration by clasping onto the barb or nipple of the hose fitting.
Ultimately, these clamps prevent the internal fluid from escaping by producing equal pressure throughout the hose and by precluding spaces and gaps through which the fluid may otherwise leak.
Hose clamps are also sometimes known as hose locks, hose clips, and connecting clips.
Conclusion
Automotive hose clamps are a car essential and lend the stability and strength required to clasp hoses of your vehicle system securely. We hope that our article helps you learn about these clamps and their vast application in the automotive industry.
