Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Lower radiator hose!

How did you guys that replaced the lower radiator hose, get it off? My dad and I can get any sort of clamp in there to get it off! The hose thats above the plug were you drain the coolant out of the radiator. Just to verify the location. Thanks in advance!
Regards, Dave F

Recently replaced all coolant hoses. I used channel lock pliers. You will need ones small enough to fit up there. It isn't easy and might be easier to use worm clamps to replace the factory ones when you install the new hose.. You can also purchase the pliers I'll link to you below but they really can't get into all the tight spots. IIRC they did help out with the lower hose.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/AP-9409.html

Got pissed and cut it off. Removed pieces after I removed the radiator. Positioned the clamp to a better area upon reinstall.

Needle nose vice-grips.

I just finished the extreme cooling system makeover...from hell!

To answer the question I was able to use channel locks from below. Replaced all with worm gear clamps.

My gripe is the car has 11 stinkin hoses. NAPA carries 8 of them and none of the local Ford Dealers even stocked the other three.

The top hose is actually 5 hoses bonded together and should be featured on that "Engineering Disasters" show.

What kind of degradation have you all seen with rad hoses? Do they need to be replaced at 60k, 100k, 200k????

UYnless they look dry-rotted - i.e. cracked, dry, crumbly, you should be fine. At around 150k I'd be checking them out.

Mine all looked and felt fine, but with 115K miles I thought like it was time. I am real lazy, so I hate to do things twice. This sometimes leads to going off the deep end.

If I had it to do over I would put a pump and t-stat in and throw a roll of duct tape in the trunk.