2004 MCS, 135K. When I had the p/s pump and fan replaced under the recall program the dealer used conventional screw-type clamps on the hoses instead of the OE Oetiker stepless clamps. It has leaked like a sieve ever since. I purchased a hose kit from ECS and it comes with the OE Oetiker clamps, which I intend to use. Oetiker (and Knipex) make the specialized tool used to install them, but I can't find one locally and in any event they are unnecessarily expensive. The tool looks like a conventional 'nipper' which I can find, but I'm concerned that the special tool teeth may be blunt whereas the teeth on the garden-variety nipper are deliberately sharp. If I use a common nipper do I risk destroying the clamp in the process? TIA.

 

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You can grind/file the edge off the nippers so that they are dull.

But, here's a tool for $12.

http://www.kegoutlet.com/oetiker-cla...xhQaAgt58P8HAQ

There are better clamps then the worm-drive one that the dealer installed. Have you tried a constant tension clamp or a t-bolt clamp?

 

Thanks. Not sure what a 'constant tension clamp' is.

 

Here's a link to some t-bolt constant tension clamps, they provide a much better uniform clamping force:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-hose-clamps/=v1ssru

 

I bought same kit from ecs to fix leaks. I went to autozone and bought cv joint boot pliers. They work perfect on oitker clamps.

 

I just use the common garden variety. I've never had any problems. After all you are just squeezing the ears, not trying to cut them off.

 

I found "CV Boot Clamp Pliers" for around $10 (amazon, etc) work great but suggest you follow the advice above and switch to constant tension clamps. The oetiker style are cheaper for the OE and easy to install with automated equipment. The simple oetiker style clamps have no way to accomodate the expansion/hardening/swelling/changes in the hose with temperature and aging.

If the hoses are oozing, it is likely the ends were too damaged to re-use, or were damaged in removing/replacing them, but the mechanic did it anyway... You can probably get away (just once) with trimming off 1/2" or so to get a clean end. If it's been trimmed before, the hose will be too short to trim again and you likely should get new hoses.

 

I am also replacing the p/s hoses.

I found this nice video about how to remove and install Oetiker clamps.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/vie...=1420158440489

In reading several forms it seems that a LOT of people recommend replacing Oetiker clamps with worm type clamps.

 

These are better than worm clamps:

 

Cerenkov: do they make those in a size appropriate for the p/s hoses?

 

McMaster.com has some from 7.5 mm and up.