Ok heres the deal. I currently have been using the el cheapo home depot couplers for my intercooler piping for quite some time now. Im only running stock boost on my greddy kit (5.5psi) no problems out of the home depot couplers. However, I have read all the info about them and about how they wear out, get soft, and dont hold well with higher boost applications. Ive decided to get some silcone couplers to replace these since I figure I will be running 8-9psi after tune. My question is with that psi Im running would I be okay with getting heavy duty hose clamps instead of t-bolt clamps? The home depot couplers have served me well. I would almost go and get some new ones but Im skeptical to doing that. I just really need to know an opinion on the clamps for silcone hoses (T-bolt or Standard Heavy Duty)

Tetronious

00 SI
Boosted

 

Get the t-bolt clamp, i run fine with home depot clamp at 7psi too, it was holding up great. then when i went and boost 11psi all hell went lose, they refuse to stay on, do it right the first time and get the t clamp

 

t bolt clamps are awesome but really costly!

if you're ghertto like me, what i do is i use worm gear clamps and wrap my silicone connector with electrical tape that way when i tighten the worm gear clamp down real good it bites into the tape not the silicone, and u can really tighten it down good...

ONLY USE STAINLESS STEEL WORM GEAR CLAMPS!
all other soft steal **** is CRAP! the strip and u cant even tighten them 1/2 as much as a stainless one before tthey give out!!

id say up to 11psi stainless worm gear clamps are A-OK, but thats just my opinion... if ur gunna boost more than the stock map sensor can take then switch over.

 

dont shortcut, just get the t-bolt clamps and do it right the first time

 

From my experiences, the home depot couplers are nothing but trouble from 10psi up. The problem isn't really the clamps though, so if you're on a budget I would say keep those. It's the actual couplers that will be the difference. If you weld some beads around the pipes before you install the new couplers= even better.

 

I wont be seeing more than 10psi. Since I dont plan on changing out the map sensor, and Im still running stock internals

Tetronious

00 SI
Boosted

 

Everyone rags on the wormies haha. Mine have been holding just fine at 15psi. I do plan on buying the t-bolt once I turn the boost up all the way, but thats a good test (see how much the worms can actually hold haha).

 

At 30 psi I had worm gear clamps on everything other than the compressor outlet to lower IC pipe and never had a problem.

Those are gone in favor for t-bolts now though.

 

I'v never had a problem with my worm gear clamps. Except my charge pipe from my turbo to my intercooler blew of once, tightened it down really hard and its never came of since.

 

Yeah those cheap clamps suck, everytime you get just about tight enough, one more turn and BAMMMM!!!! the thing stripps out !
The T-bolt clamps are good, and strong enough to crush your IC pipe...

 

Adel Wiggins clamps

They will NEVER blow out, easy to remove, and under 100 bucks for a 2.5"-er.

 

holy ****, how many do you get for that $100???? That better replace every worm clamp from the turbo to the intake.

Orrrr....you could just weld all the piping together haha (tack with the coupler overtop haha)

 

I use worm clamps at 20+ PSI. I use the SS ones from Lowes and double up on them. I score the ends of my charge piping and everything stays tight.