Rubber piping vs Metal piping

**BLK1g-gte** · 23-03-2007, 07:33 PM

I know its probably covered before but what are the real benefits of swapping the stock rubber/plastic intercooler piping for metal piping. I have heard one fact that rubber hoses expand and shrink due to engine bay temp. The reason I ask is I always thought that metal piping will heat soak more then rubber. Car will be running 1.2 bar so maybe this will play a role also on the rubber piping. Any good info would be great. Just want to know if its a worth while upgrade????

**Draven** · 24-03-2007, 09:38 PM

1) rubber perishes. depending on the age of your car, new metal/silicone lines would be a good idea
2) for high boost applications, the rubber will be subject to shape changes, so long lengths of rubber tube can be a bad thing.
3) when people install new coolers, often the re-route the piping (or have a bigger turbo), so the factory piping is no good
4) BLING!!!

**Thomas** · 24-03-2007, 09:52 PM

5) Metal pipes don't split.

**Draven** · 24-03-2007, 09:59 PM

yeah, the plastic bits in between the rubber bits tend to die

**EldarO** · 24-03-2007, 10:35 PM

the plastic/rubber combo is HORRIBLE!

change it as soon as you can, i know from my 7M experience, that there were way too many boost leaks, yet i didnt have the money to swap the piping out.

by the time i got money (it all came in bulk) i had enough for the 1J conversion.

change it ASAP, you'll never look back!

Elmo.

**MWP** · 25-03-2007, 02:09 AM

Rubber hoses seem to be good enough for this particular engine...

If they are good enough for that, they are good enough for anything

**Draven** · 25-03-2007, 01:33 PM

that's rubber on metal tho, not rubber on plastic

**thechuckster** · 25-03-2007, 01:50 PM

boost-safe flexible hoses are not the same meterial or inner weave as heater hose or NA intake piping.

**Vios-GT_07** · 25-03-2007, 02:00 PM

diesel powered land cruiser with massive turbo has the majority of piping in rubber.. even at idle they're pretty solid..100,000 kms later and still standing.. though it's recommended in the service manual to get them replaced..

i suppose if car came from manufacturer, the rubber bits are designed with stock boost levels and require to be changed at their recommended intervals (3 years or 100,000 kms whichever comes first?)

**BLK1g-gte** · 25-03-2007, 04:57 PM

Thanks for all the responses.... The rubber is in not bad nick but then again the car is nealy 20years old now. I think i'll just change the piping to mild steel with HPC coating. What size piping you think would be the most efficient .Engine is a 1ggte, High flow Blitz ct12's HKS bolt on cooler. The reason i didn't change the rubber piping is cause the stock piping bolted straight on to the new cooler.
Should i just leave it the stock 2 1/4 inch or go bigger?? Then again if the cooler inlet/outlet is 2 1/4 there is not much point going any bigger true???

**Draven** · 25-03-2007, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by BLK1g-gte

Then again if the cooler inlet/outlet is 2 1/4 there is not much point going any bigger true???

exactly. just go the size of your cooler/plenum/turbo outlets

**IN 05 NT** · 25-03-2007, 08:09 PM

for a 1ggte, i wouldnt go any larger than 2.5"....that will cover it easy,

plastic/rubber hoses are fine for factory cars....but soon as you start playing with boost they become useless, and will fail eventually,.....