fooldall1
Handy Enthusiast
Didn't someone on this forum replace the T's with Brass?
Don't get stranded...change out those t-connectors now
- Thread starter rockcruiser915
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- leak over heating radiator
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DirtDawg
"It'd be alot cooler if you did"
Several have, there are examples in the thread i linked on the first page.
I went to Home Depot and bought some Shark Bite brass Ts ($3 each) in plumbing. I have used a lot of Pex and Shark Bite products and love them. They are barbed, and somebody mentioned that they overtightened the clamps and it ate into the hose. I haven't had an issue with the stainless steel clamps I bought.
fooldall1
Handy Enthusiast
I think it would be worth it for me to replace with stainless or brass, for sure! They were re-done 2 yrs ago, anyway, but... when the time comes I'm going stainless.
I replaced them about 3 weeks ago with metal, not sure if it's brass. Bought them online.
Also replaced all 6 hoses, I have to say that it's a PITA to get the hoses out of the rear core pipes, that took me the longest.
BTW, now are $4 cheaper
Amazon.com: Four Seasons 84543 Heater Fitting: Automotive
LXColorado
2008 Pacific Blue
I did brass T's. Much more robust than the plastic. Concerning brass vs SS: Broadly speaking, brass has a higher resistance to corrosion over SS. It has a higher thermal conductivity, as well (heats up and cools down faster). It would be interesting to know the pH of Toyota's coolant, as brass tends to corrode when exposed to more acidic solutions (coolant eventually becomes more acidic). Of course, it takes a LONG time for copper-alloys (brass) to corrode, and you'll likely fry your engine before corroding brass T's from old coolant. Change your coolant when it's due, and corrosion won't be a concern/problem.
Brass > SS >>>> Plastic, IMO. Either way, it's cheap insurance. Just make sure you buy quality metal.
Took the advise and changed out the T's on both my 06 LC and 03 LX last week-- Both vehicles were on the original set and had never been changed.
on the 06 LC with 183k Miles - T's were in great shape - threw the old ones in the box for spares
on the 03 LX with 116k miles - Both T's were crumbling and ready to go at any time (photo below)
Appears that age is a more important than mileage in how bad these can get. Only other difference is the 03 uses toyota red antifreeze and the 06 uses the Pink antifreeze. Is the Pink easier on plastics?????
*******IF YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED THESE OUT - DO IT IMMEDIATELY One of the T's on my LX crumbled just taking the clamp off*******
on the 06 LC with 183k Miles - T's were in great shape - threw the old ones in the box for spares
on the 03 LX with 116k miles - Both T's were crumbling and ready to go at any time (photo below)
Appears that age is a more important than mileage in how bad these can get. Only other difference is the 03 uses toyota red antifreeze and the 06 uses the Pink antifreeze. Is the Pink easier on plastics?????
*******IF YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED THESE OUT - DO IT IMMEDIATELY One of the T's on my LX crumbled just taking the clamp off*******
The ASIN number for the brass Tees are B007ZCS530, just enter that in the AMAZON search field.
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- #29
Your pics look nearly *identical* to how my T's looked...corroded and shredded. let me guess. The T on top is from the passenger side and the bottom is from the driver side. Right?
TexasRNguy is correct - the bottom T in the photo is the driver side - I assume this is the hot side of the heater circuit.
If you don't have a replacement in hand - don't even touch them to check their condition - they will break at the slightest twist.
If you don't have a replacement in hand - don't even touch them to check their condition - they will break at the slightest twist.
^^^^^^^ Can certainly happen. In my case the drivers side Tee broke when just barely bumped while I was replacing my Starter.
It was actually a fortuitous event for me. Instead of discovering the fragile Tee at the worst possible time....I found out about it while the vehicle was already being worked on. But I was truly amazed at how easily it broke. It was a disaster just waiting to happen.
Mine has new Metal Tee's now.
I joined the Heater T club!!
Took this threads advice and changed my Heater Ts too.
Used the 5/8" Brass barbed recommended - Amazon purchase for $9.56 each.
Indeed Toyota positioned those clamps in the worst possible way to take off.
I found it was easiest to use small Vice Pliers - clamp down on them and
rotate - see photo for the tools I used.
I found the plastic ones in great shape.
Still I feel more confident replacing them anyway - hate to loose my Engine
over something simple like this.
Took this threads advice and changed my Heater Ts too.
Used the 5/8" Brass barbed recommended - Amazon purchase for $9.56 each.
Indeed Toyota positioned those clamps in the worst possible way to take off.
I found it was easiest to use small Vice Pliers - clamp down on them and
rotate - see photo for the tools I used.
I found the plastic ones in great shape.
Still I feel more confident replacing them anyway - hate to loose my Engine
over something simple like this.
What a great post. I ordered my T's from Toyota just now and am replacing them this weekend. I will let you know howitzer goes. Thanks guys!
Okay. So I picked my T's up today. I wanted to do some preventative maintenance and decided to look under the hood and found that one is leaking. Thanks for posting this topic. At 273,000 miles. I am finding that I got lucky on this repair. They are 15.99 each at Toyota. Thanks!
Changed mine for the very first time. 161k 2000 LC, California. The hot side broke as I was changing it, the other side came out fine. But I am a little more as I can not locate the rest of the heate T that fell apart. Should I do a coolant flush? Also, I ended up buying this special tool to get those metal clamps off. Took me 2 hours... including trips to the hardware store... thank god I'll probably never have to do it again.
Good thread. First thing that ever went wrong with my Cruiser after I got it was the t-connector turning into dust.
I was lucky to discover mine when I was replacing my starter. My Brother happened to just barely bump the drivers side hose/Tee and it broke in two. I couldn't believe how 'crumbly' it was when removing it. I considered it a 'blessing' that I found out about it that way...instead of it breaking when my wife was driving it...because Lord only knows when she would stop the vehicle.
fooldall1
Handy Enthusiast
I went with the Stainless version myself, but Mod worth making.
I replaced mine this weekend on a newly purchased '03 LX. Both were so brittle they broke with a light tug. I bought T's and assembled everything with new hoses for a clean swap, highly recommend as the old hoses are very hard to get off without cutting. You can buy bulk hose at any auto shop. The hardest part is the location of the T's.
