i'm thinking hoses when doing coolant flush. Any opinions on the types of hoses that go in.. should i do the cheepie URO/FCP Groton ones, or stick with more expensive dealership parts. same question goes for belts. -Thanx
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'89 245 DL B230 Manual

I put in new upper and lower hoses from Groton about 7 years ago. Still going strong. Suspect they might be URU but I don't remember.

Put in new Continental drive belts from Groton over 100k and they are still good too.

IMO - I wouldn't bother with OEM unless you plan to keep the car forever...

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95 855 GLT Sportwagon, 90 244 DL 300k

I can't say about the belts or hoses but a very respected parts guy at my local NAPA told me to never replace my hose clamps because you cna't buy them any more. They are the ones that are kind of "enclosed" where the screw turns to take up the slack and the tab does not stick out and cut you and other things.
Helpful?

I've never had much an issue with any brand hoses or belts. You might want to compare prices from the local autoparts with FCP as I've normally gotten good hoses and belts from Autozone / ORiley.

HOWEVER - make certain if you have Double belts on your alternator that you get a "matched set". Do not get 2 belts of the "same size" as they are rarely close enough. You need a matched set to ensure they really are the same size.


Hope that helps
Charles

The belts I've seen vary differently from OEM Volvo to the cheepo brands. There were different tooth patterns in the ones (expensive type) from a big box type store, (napa, etc) then from the original busted Volvo type. The only noticeable difference was slight squealing. Which a bit of dry bar soap applied to the toothy side eliminated. I'm not sure about the timing belt or hoses though.
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'89 245 DL B230 Manual

I get my hoses & belts-and other stuff-from a local independent Volvo parts place--RPR discount Volvo parts in Albany, Calif. Never had any problems with them-well until they've had a LOT of use and its about time to change them. By the way-I didn't think about the dry soap idea-I'll try it if I get that issue-Thanks-I have used a spray of WD-40 on squealing belts for temp help-but that's usually the sign of a loose and/or worn belt. Yeah, be sure to get a "matched pair" as he said.

I try to go to my dealer for all of my parts because an inside man gets me a healthy discount. Unfortunately, the only thing he could get me the upper hose--and that took 2 weeks. Volvo no longer carried the lower. I had to go to Napa to find a replacement.

I got both upper and lower Volvo hoses packaged with the correct clamps from Tasca.
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its been several years back but I got an Australian? hose set from eEuroparts, the same as IPD and others sell, and the good German or swedish type hose clamps are widely available but not so cheap. I would be very reluctant to use the elderly hose clamps, I would, however, glue the hoses on with a flexible gasket cement as a back up sealer, NOT as a replacement for good clamps. The good clamps are widely available with a little effort and cost, just not commonly carried as the cheap house brand.

bmw john in indy / avon

Eeuroparts.com has the Timing belt package and good pricing on the hoses. Every few years the coolant needs to be replaced and hoses that cost $6 each are not that big of a deal to replace every 3 to 5 years.

I've been using them for a number of years and they look good after years of use. I plan on replacing the hoses every 5 years and have no fear they won't last. Unless someone can tell from experience that they break apart on the inside and fill the coolant system full of crap but I haven't heard anyone say so yet.

Bork x 3, I did think of something I did two months ago when I changed all my belts and hoses. The top readiator hose sort of snakes to the left (facing car of course) and goes on to connect at the neck/coupler where the thermostat is housed. Well, I never did like the way it "rested" on the fan shroud so I cut alot of the curve of lthe new hose so that I had to sort of "stretch" it straight to connect it and now it almost goes traight from the radiator to the couple and there is very little strain or pressure on the hose. You know, chances are,there would not ever have been a chance for the hose to rub enought to even dent it much less cut into it, but somehow in my little brain I feel like I improved things a little. ??