So I planned to use the first totally warm, dry day of the year here today to work on the coolant system of my wife's '95 SE 'Green Grocery Getter'.

System flush, drilled 180* thermostat, pressure release radiator cap, new upper/lower radiator and heater hoses, replace the cracked overflow reservoir, new coolant, and upper coolant elbow.

I got nearly everything done, until I ran up against the 'Corbin' clamps holding the original heater hoses to the heater core. I was able to remove all of the other clamps with ChannelLock water pump pliers, but there's just not enough room back there to get them in between the firewall and A/C components, and manipulate the factory installed clamps off.

I've been working on my own cars for thirty years, and have somehow managed to avoid investing in a set of these clamp removers. What do you guys use? Do I really need to buy the remote cable actuated ratcheting version for $50, or will a cheap pair of $10 Corbin pliers be able to angle in there to get those clamps off?

And do you continue to use the original Corbin clamps on your new hoses, or would it be better to install some approrpriately sized stainless steel worm drive hose clamps with the new hoses? (I always assumed the Corbins from the factory wore out after ten or twenty years of service, and have usually replaced 'em.)

If you want to get the clamps off without possibly damaging the heater core, you will need the tool. Not saying that it will save the heater core, because trying to get the hoses off may just kill it, but.....you will need this tool again, trust me.

As far as the clamps go, I re-use them if they are not damaged. If you can actually get to the drives on the worm-drive clamps, I say use them, but do not over-tighten!

Basically there is no way around it, you must have the cable actuated pliers. I found mine locally for about $30, so look around and check online before dropping $50 on them.

To be honest though, I wouldn't even worry about replacing those hoses. I have never seen anyone have an issue with them blowing out or blocking flow from going bad.

I replaced the heater core in my old 93 and reused the clamps without issue.

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

Well good news then! I figured if you replaced upper and lower radiator hoses, might as well do 'em all...

I'll just save the spare new heater hoses I bought, and wait to buy the $50 clamp remover until I really need it.

Re: taking the hoses off the heater core stubs: If I can somehow squirt some Kroil in between the hose and the core, would that lessen the chance of breaking the solder joints? Or how about maybe trying to surgically slice through the top of the hose with a utility knife, to help peel it away?

Thanks for your replies.

I always use a utility knife to slice through heater hoses I won't be re-using.