Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Shadowscraps
It will not be a recurring problem. Those factory style clamps have been used for decades, and yet...parts stores don't sell them. (Vintage restoration suppliers excluded). Why not? Because they are a sub-standard design developed to streamline automaker profits, and are not designed to withstand actual usage in the real world! They are easier and faster to install...and they come off quicker and easier too...whether you want them to or not.
I got a bunch of REAL (screw-type) clamps from work today and installed them...two clamps at every connection, just like I used to do in my old 4x4 off-roading days. The consumer shouldn't have to invest time and money picking up the slack from poor engineering and careless assembly, but that's the way it is.
You are right, it isn't just Ford...and isn't just domestic automakers...but it's something potential customers should be aware of, and look out for. Be ready to do some re-engineering if you plan to drive that new vehicle very far!
Are you serious?
1. I can order those style of clamps EASILY from a parts store. They are not a STOCKED item in places like Autozone because you need a special TOOL to install them correctly. Because Uncle Ted and his buddy Zipper Jim might not pinch them squarely with the pliers and take their eye out. That in no way makes them inferior.
2. Screw-style gear clamps are not superior. That's the reason they are not rated for holding things like, oh, lets say EFI-rated fuel line, boost pipes on a turbo application, or the like.
There are special styles of clamps for each application. The clamps you don't trust Ford to use correctly are specifically tensioned to provide adequate clamping force for coolant-grade use without damaging the rubber pipe. Something that Uncle Jim with his ratchet and his gear clamps may not avoid doing as he's grinding them into the rubber.
There are MILLIONS of vehicles running around with these clamps holding their hoses on. MILLIONS. They are not a common failure item and your freak accident, which was likely due to the hose being installed incorrectly, NOT the clamp, can in no way nullify the fact that you are one of a very, very VERY small minority of people who have ever had these clamps fail.
Something to think about: We currently own FIVE Ford vehicles with a total combined mileage of 1,068,000Km's. They ALL have this style of clamp. We've NEVER had a clamp failure. How that fairs compared to your SINGLE, low-mileage data point... well.
I concur. We currently own three Ford vehicles with a combined mileage at this point of 104,000 miles. My grandmother has had 2 edges combined mileage of another 75,000 miles. No failures. Food for thought, my cavalier had the same hose clamps. There is another 137,000 miles. Other grandmother and grandfather had two cavaliers with 95k and 45k respectively, same clamps.. Yup seems like a widespread problem to me.
