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1981 Diesel Rabbit radiator hose upgrades?

I've had a couple of radiator hose issues, and now the lower hose has collapsed. A workmate of my has had several lower radiator hoses collapse. The main issue seems to be the more than 90 degree bend, but "inferior manufacture" may be an issue as well (these are NAPA hoses, FWIW). When I use to work on V8s, they often would have steel springs inside them in situations like this to prevent collapse.

Anyone know:

  1. Are better hoses available, and where?

  1. Alternately, anyone know where I can get springs to screw into my existing hoses?

Reply to
Ken Finney
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Failing that, get a "universal" replacement hose. Those are usually something of a PITA to fit, but they do come with springs.

Failing that, get a universal hose and pull the spring from it to put into your hose. You may have to make some adjustments to get the proper 'bend' on the spring, but I have been there and done that when the alternative was sitting at the side of the road by dark of night in a blinding snowstorm with wolves at my heels...

Peter Wieck Wyncote, PA

Reply to
pfjw

I think that sometimes oem dealer hoses are better than the will fit hoses you get at NAPA or Autozone. I have bought hoses for other vehicles that I gave up on and bought dealer hoses. Of course on an older car sometimes they do not have those hoses in stock anymore. Grab springs from any hose you can get?

Reply to
Jim Behning

WOW I don't EVER remember seeing a VW Rabbit coolant hose with a spring in it. I might have seen 1 VW that could collapse its lower rad hose but it was a very soft hose. A new hose fixed that right up.

Could it be that the radiator is partially clogged and the demands put on that hose when the thermostat opens causes the hose to collapse since the flow is restricted due to the clogged radiator?

If you can't find a suitable method for keeping that hose open................... I probably have a lower radiator hose for your '81 Diesel that I am pretty sure I will not need. I have not worked on any diesel Rabbits for years. Unless the hose is the same for the Cabriolets, I doubt that I will ever need these hoses again. Does your Diesel have A/C?

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

Thanks for the offer. I got a private email from someone else that pointed out that the system requires pressure to keep the hoses from collapsing. Since my reservoir tank is cracked and not keeping the system pressurized, I'm going to replace it with a metal one and see if that cures the problem. And I'll look for a spring that will fit, too!

Reply to
Ken Finney

Hmmm, I have not seen any metal ones! 8^o I think your original plastic part number is 171-121-407E and I don't think they cost a lot of $$. ;-) Good luck!

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

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