An old hose can be very difficult to remove due to age and corrossion
Stuck radiator and coolant hoses can be a real pain, especially if they are way down inside the engine compartment and hard to get to. You would think you could just loosen up the clamp and pull it off. Not so with hoses that have been on for 10 plus years. If they have been clamped to an aluminum nipple it makes matters even worse due to the corrosion that can form almost "gluing" the hose in place.
Problem & Solution
Common among these chassis:
Classic Sedans
Ponton
R107
W108 W109
W110 W111 W112 Sedan
W111 W112 Coupe
W113
W114
W115
W116
W123
W124
W126
R129
W140
W201
You can never just pull them off. There are three other ways to remove these old stubborn hoses:
- Cut them off if you do not plan to reuse them. Use a razor box knife and carefully slice 2 inches in from the end of the hose and twist it off.
- Use a clamping tool. Get a good hold on the end of the hose and twist it back and forth until it breaks loose off the nipple. Be careful not to squeeze too hard or you can damage the reinforcement inside the hose.
- Use a radiator hose pick removal tool. This is the best method if you plan on reusing the hose. Remove the clamp then insert the curved pick tool into the end of the hose. Work in all around and pry up on the hose at the same time. This will release hose from the nipple and you will be able to pull it off.