Motorsport Plumbing Systems: Crimp Hose Ends
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Crimp Hose Ends
03.49
| 00:00 | Crimp hose ends are considered the most secure option, so when we're after the ultimate connection between our hose and the fitting, this is what we use. |
| 00:08 | A similar type of crimp fitting that we use in aftermarket applications is also used in OEM applications, most commonly for power steering and brake lines, where the pressures are high and avoiding leaks is critical to safety. |
| 00:23 | These crimp fittings are also suitable for coolant and oil lines in more demanding motorsport applications, although the aftermarket offerings are typically a lot lighter than the large bulky items from your local hydraulic shop, and arguably better looking and more robust than the OE style fittings. |
| 00:41 | They also tend to be favoured in the higher ends of motorsport competition, as they're usually the lightest of all the hose end options. |
| 00:49 | Although this difference in weight is negligible in a single hose end, if we consider a race car that could have 30 or more, it's easy to see how this would add up. |
| 00:59 | The parts involved are still very simple though. |
| 01:01 | There's a crimp collar, typically made from aluminium, that slides on over the end of the hose and a crimp specific fitting that slides into the hose. |
| 01:10 | The crimp collar is crushed radially, locking the hose to the fitting and forming a seal. |
| 01:16 | This also ensures the outer braid is held in place and prevents it from unravelling. |
| 01:21 | The fitting will often have some grooves and ribbing to help the hose lock in place. |
| 01:26 | It should also be noted for smaller plumbing lines, like brake lines for example, the crimp collar could be integrated into the fittings so it's just one piece. |
| 01:36 | Unlike push on hose ends, we can use crimp hose ends with PTFE hose and this uses the same amount of parts unlike the extra olive used with reusable hose ends. |
| 01:47 | In saying that, the crimp collar and corresponding fittings are often still designed specifically for PTFE or rubber hose with slight differences in tolerances and geometry. |
| 01:58 | So, as always, it's best to purchase the hose we want to use and the corresponding fittings from the same supplier. |
| 02:05 | The main downside here is cost and not so much about the fitting itself but more the equipment required to make the crimp. |
| 02:13 | Using the crimping device along with the dies for each specific fitting size. |
| 02:18 | Through the use of hydraulics or pneumatics, the crimp device allows us to compress and crush the crimp collar in the crimp die. |
| 02:26 | Often the suppliers of these fittings will offer a crimping service as the cost of the equipment isn't justifiable for a single plumbing job. |
| 02:34 | It's probably obvious that the other drawback is that once crimped, these can't be easily taken apart and reused should we want to make changes to our plumbing system. |
| 02:44 | The final thing to note is that crimped hose ends need to be pressure tested before being used. |
| 02:49 | In some countries and race series this is law but it's always good practice regardless. |
| 02:55 | This gives us a peace of mind that our fittings will perform and remain safe when we're out on the street or track, but can also allow us to find leaks before installing the lines on the car and filling with expensive fluid, wasting time and potentially making a mess. |
| 03:11 | Pressure testing kits of varying complexity are available or you could have a shop do it for you. |
| 03:16 | But we'll cover a basic method of testing in the practical skills section of this course that you can also use on our other hose ends. |
| 03:24 | To summarise, crimp hose ends are regarded as the most secure and highest integrity hose ends, using a crimp collar which is crushed onto the fitting, locking the hose in place and forming a seal. |
| 03:36 | Unfortunately, these fittings aren't so simple to construct, requiring some more elaborate tooling and can't be removed or reused easily like our other hose ends. |
