What are you guys running for intercooler piping couplers? Anything special? I've had my car running again for about two weeks now and I can't get them to stay on. I'm running 8lbs on a T3/T4 and it seems like I can only get one good pull, and the next it blows a coupler off.

A friend of mine has his piping welded together and couplers over the welds (he's also running around 22lbs on a 4G63) because he kept blowing his couplers off.

You can go down to Heavy duty truck parts store and get radiator hose for like a semi, Works pretty well. Also what are you using for clamps? Hose clamps or a T-bolt style clamp?

I have tbolt on most of the couplers. Then on the one that keeps blowing off it has the cheapo hose type clamps. The clamps are holding up and they stay tight, but I think the weak pepboys coupler is crap.

All of the couplers that came with my intercooler have held up really well but I'm worried that when I get the trouble spot fixed it might blow out some of those too.

I like the idea for the heavy duty hoses though. I'm looking for alternatives to the weak couplers that they sell at parts stores that don't seem to like boost. I found some at siliconintakes.com and the two that I ordered from them are perfect but I was looking for something local that I can pick up kind of quick.

In order to keep the couplers on you need to have the pipes beaded. If you dont then they are going to blow off. Welding the pipes together is a foolish idea becuase the motor does flex in the cradle and the piping needs to be able to do the same.

I have run 30psi on standard couplers and t-bolt clamps without any leaking. I beaded my pipes with a TIG welder so the beads might be consider slightly larger than those of a Bead roller.

Terry

Ok that makes sense. Guess I'll check the shops and see what they would charge to do that. Welding is the only thing I can't do yet.

Originally posted by eclipserstturbo
Then on the one that keeps blowing off it has the cheapo hose type clamps.

There is your answer there. If you are going to do it, do it right the first time. Invest in some decent couplers and T-Bolt clamps.

http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=tp&Category_Code=SIL

or

http://www.xtremefabrications.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15

Beading your pipes, as Terry mentioned, is the correct way to do it. Alternatives that are less than ideal but provide results are to use hair spray or a very thin layer of RTV on the pipe ends to increase the friction between IC pipe and coupler.

^ Agreed, and the hair spray does work amazingly well believe it or not, but it must be el cheapo hair spray from the dollar store!

Thanks guys. I think I'll order the ones from atp until I can get the pipes bead welded. From what I've gathered from searching that seems like it'd be my best option.

Also, look at http://www.siliconeintakes.com/

I bought most of my couplers from them. Good heavy duty silicone, and more reasonably priced than most competitors. Their t-bolt clamps, however aren't as good as others.

Originally posted by Fallen4ng31
Also, look at http://www.siliconeintakes.com/ I bought most of my couplers from them. Good heavy duty silicone, and more reasonably priced than most competitors. Their t-bolt clamps, however aren't as good as others.

+1

Got my stuff from them also. During my initial turbo install I used some rubber plumbing couplers from Home Depot and they only lasted about 2 weeks on 8 psi of boost. I then spent over 100 bucks on silicone couplers and t-clamps and never had a problem after that.

Yeah I've got two couplers from siliconintakes on there now. One from the turbo and one on the throttle body. Those two are great. I'm just trying to get rid of this last cheap parts store rubber couplers. I think once I do that I shouldn't have to worry about it anymore since that is the only one blowing off everytime. I noticed that over the time the heat has just made it hard and kind of slick so I'm guessing that's why its coming off. All of the couplers that came with my IC piping work fine and I've never had problems with. It's just the rubber ones.

I tried 2 new couplers from siliconeintakes and clamps. So far so good. I only had one other coupler blow off since, and in the past 400-500 miles I haven't had a problem.