Intercooler Boots

[903Dodge]

I am having one of my boot on the intake horns side come loose. I have tightened it and it still backing off.

 

I boost maybe 38psi. 

 

Does anyone have experience with https://www.siliconeintakes.com/?

 

I am wondering if there is a smple fix, or if I should just get a new set of boots? The truck is 15yrs old and has 240k miles. 

[Mopar1973Man]

Vulcan Performance... I've got a set of his silicone boots and so far holding up good.

[jlbayes]

That boot usually stays put? Honestly the factory pipes are too short. The stock boots will hold a lot more than most give them credit for. Coupling nuts are also a good idea.

[Me78569]

I have siliconintake stuff on my truck.  seems to work good.

[903Dodge]

Me78569

 

What sizes do I need to order to replace all the boots?

[Me78569]

3" for the uppers and 3.5-3" 45* bend.  I did need to boil the end of the boot and stretch it over a large masion jar to get it to fit on the intercooler.  

 

 

[jlbayes]

The intercooler is 3.63".

[dripley]

I have the silicone intake on mine also. Bought them a good time back and just installed them about a month ago. Thy appeared comparable to the stock ones. 32 psi is the max mines sees. Have had no issues with them. I keep thinking that the reducers I bought were bigger than 3 x 3.5. I did not have to stretch them like @Me78569 said he had to. Slipped on with just a little effort. It would not hurt to measure to be sure. I have 4" stuck in my head, of course I bought mine long ago.

 

A question for you all. Do the T bolt clamps need to be spring loaded? I see them both ways and one of mine is almost shot.To @903Dodge, that might be your issue as well. Seems to me the boot should not slip off if the clamp is holding like it should.

[jlbayes]

I do not use spring loaded tbolt clamps. Never a failure of clamps. Just strip out nuts. Where the coupling nuts come in.

[dripley]

Coupling nuts = rod couplings or a 1" long or so nut I presume.

[jlbayes]

You got it.

[dripley]

Never stripped one of the nuts but I did have one of the t's spin in the clamp while backing the nut off with the clamp in my hand. Thats when I noticed a couple of my clamps were in sad shape.

[jlbayes]

To put some backing behind it they are holding back over 100psi with my junk. No stock boots though. Those held 70psi with the nuts and factory boots.

I have used vice grips to squeeze them back together. Gotta love corrosion and crap on the threads.

[903Dodge]

No offense but I finally got to a point to pull the boot and measure it to be sure of the size. 

 

When I pulled the lower boot I had a little bit of water come out, ( it's been raining a lot here in East Texas) would that be normal because of the humidity in the air?

[dripley]

I guess it could be possible but dont really know that for sure. I just had my inter cooler out of the truck a few weeks ago and found no water in it at all. You might have a leak somewhere. Pressurize it and be sure.

 

I am curious as to the size you came up with on the lower boot.  

 

No offense taken on measuring for yourself, pretty sure that is what I did because I heard more than one size before I ordered mine.

Edited August 17, 2017 by dripley

[903Dodge]

I used a tape measure so I am not exact. But I ordered 3.5 to 3

[jlbayes]

The intercooler is 100% not a 3.5". It is 3.63", there is a reason so many fight with the 3.5" boot.

[dripley]

I know i bought bigger that the 3.5 and was thinking four but I bought a good while back. I also did not have a problem getting them on. No stretching or heating. Lighty snug was all. 

[903Dodge]

My intercooler boots showed up today!!

 

Took very little effort to get the 3.5" on my intercooler. Maybe the 100 degree weather here in Texas helped. 

 

Thanks guys for for the input and help. 

 

[dripley]

Good to hear. Hope they serve you well.