Coolant hose replacement options

[ascari]

I've got the car in bits to replace the turbos, and part of that is replacing the vacuum hoses with silicone. Project creep means I'm considering replacing the coolant hoses too.

I've found 2 kits for all the hoses here: Radiator Hose Kit & Ancillary Hose Kit

Does this look good, any suggestions? I know they're considered performance parts, and mine is a 54k mile stock FD, so maybe there are better options you guys have tried?

 

[ascari]

Further research for this compelling thread has lead me to there being 2 options:

1. OEM - Expensive and rubber, so still more perishable than silicone
2. Aftermarket - Samco or SFS Performance, the latter being the only one that can replace all hoses (see links)

It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could chime in with their $0.02

I'm keen to keep the car all original, but the vacuum hoses now aren't, and the cooling system is the 1 thing that needs to be 100%.

 

[JoeLanger]

Silicone is a good upgrade to rubber yeah. Most people go for the aesthetics, but you can get black pipes. But saying that the rubber will last 20 years as demonstrated. So it's personal preference really

You might be able to get cheaper non branded silicone products on the like of eBay. The smaller ones you can just do out of long lengths of generic hose.

 

[ascari]

Silicone is a good upgrade to rubber yeah. Most people go for the aesthetics, but you can get black pipes. But saying that the rubber will last 20 years as demonstrated. So it's personal preference really

You might be able to get cheaper non branded silicone products on the like of eBay. The smaller ones you can just do out of long lengths of generic hose.

makes sense. i thought maybe the preformed shape of OEM pipes was important for flow, but i guess as long as you don't kink it, it must be fine. thanks, it was starting to feel quite lonely in this thread

 

[JoeLanger]

Lol most of it is pike 4 ply fibre reinforce so you'd have to be trying pretty hard to kink it