Replacing the AC hoses on the right and left sides.

[Nick Triesch]

A few years ago I replaced some main AC parts on my 85 Carrera. It’s worked! But two years later I have a small pag oil leak on both sides rubber hoses right by the rocker panels. If I have a great jack to put the whole car up would this be an easy job to replaced the hoses ? Both hoses seem to leak in about the same spot.

[86 911 Targa]

No, not very easy.

You will need to source, or make up your own hoses.

Then, after replacement, you will need to pull a vacuum,
recharge the system, leak check.

If you are working with R-12 it may not be available
over the counter like R-134.

Others will chime in with additional details.

Best,

Gerry

Note: I replaced the A/C on our '86.

[Uwon]

Griffiths is the best stuff for A /C’s. Our host supplies many of their parts or go to their web site. You can buy single hoses or a whole set with great instructions to boot.
The job is not hard, just fiddly. You have to take off the belly pan to replace the hoses into the evaporator. Use a strong string with lots of lead to tie the hose ends in the engine compartment and smugglers box so you can fish the new hoses back in the same way as the old ones came out. Suggest four tall jack stands or lift. Consider a new really, really good evaporator by Griffiths. Here is a pic of the Griffiths evaporator vs. standard issue.



Good luck.
Cheers,
Johan

[Mike Andrew]

+1 on Griffiths, either direct or from our host.

TOP SHELF.

GREAT SUPPORT.

[piscator]

Griff's service is excellent!

If you're swapping in a new or different component, like the compressor, take that into account when ordering hoses. I installed a non-Griffith compressor and it took some time to figure out the best positioning of the hoses in the engine compartment.

Ultimately, I found it easiest to order raw hose and a selection of fittings so I could 'dry-fit' different possibilities in place. I cut the hose sections to proper length and dry fit whatever angle fitting worked best. I then marked both the hose and each fitting, to insure that my local hose shop could see the proper orientation before crimping.

Also, be aware that early Porsche A/C components used in North America do not have metric fittings, but SAE flare fittings. Driers and other replacement components from Griff's or elsewhere are usually O-ring fittings. If you keep your older front evaporator but replace the drier, you'll have a SAE flare fitting at the evaporator end and an O-ring fitting at the drier. It can get a bit confusing. I made a sketch of the hose layout indicating each individual fitting and that helped keep things sorted.

All this is FYI. If you get all the components from Griffith's you won't need to worry about this.

[Nick Triesch]

I understand that new hoses are the right thing to do but I just spent a bunch on my engine. Does anyone know of a kit that could mend the rubber hoses in the two spots? Is there a rubber hose inside of the rubber hose? Is there a kit that I could cut out the bad section and install a new section until I save up for new hoses? Thanks , nick

[Nick Triesch]

A hose splice kit?

[Uwon]

Originally Posted by Nick Triesch

I understand that new hoses are the right thing to do but I just spent a bunch on my engine. Does anyone know of a kit that could mend the rubber hoses in the two spots? Is there a rubber hose inside of the rubber hose? Is there a kit that I could cut out the bad section and install a new section until I save up for new hoses? Thanks , nick

Barrier hose is about $6/ft here in Canada so I’m sure it will be substantially less States side. Barrier hose is multi layered but only requires regular type hose end with slightly different crimped collar. Any quality A/C shop (not hydrolic shop) will have the necessary fitting and crimper to make a new hose or splice. It is not rocket science.
Johan

[T77911S]

you would need to crimp any kind of splice kit.

if both of those hoses are leaking I would replace ALL the hoses. you are not looking at that much more $$ to do all.

BTW, that is where mine was leaking. one of the long hoses, don't remember which one. I replaced them all along with all the coils.

[JRSIII]

Nick...I'm guessing you don't want to hear this, but the right answer is to purchase a complete set of barrier hoses from Griffith's and replace them all. Not knowing where you are and how hot it is now, if the car isn't your daily driver then consider garaging it for a few months until it cools off, then making this a winter project. It's a time consuming and dirty job, but not too technically challenging as long as you can follow the hose routing. Take lots of pictures of the existing ones to refer to when you reinstall the new one. While you're at it, I definitely install a new Griffith's high efficiency evaporator, which comes with thermal expansion valve, and of course you have to change the receiver dryer.

Good news is...first, since you're leaking pag oil you obviously have already lost all of your freon to atmosphere, so no need to have someone recover it. Second, in an 85 Carrera, the compressor and condensers should have o-ring fittings, which the Griffith's hoses come with, so no need for adapters. It's plug and play. Griffith's hoses will fit perfectly. Finally, your compressor and condensers will work with R-134, you just need to install the adapter fittings on the compressor (if you haven't already) to accept the snap-on type fittings that R-134 charging systems use.

I'd plan on making it a project over several weekends in the winter. Then, in the spring, take it to someone who can pull a vacuum for about an hour and recharge. You should be good to go for next summer.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by JRSIII

Nick...I'm guessing you don't want to hear this, but the right answer is to purchase a complete set of barrier hoses from Griffith's and replace them all. Not knowing where you are and how hot it is now, if the car isn't your daily driver then consider garaging it for a few months until it cools off, then making this a winter project. It's a time consuming and dirty job, but not too technically challenging as long as you can follow the hose routing. Take lots of pictures of the existing ones to refer to when you reinstall the new one. While you're at it, I definitely install a new Griffith's high efficiency evaporator, which comes with thermal expansion valve, and of course you have to change the receiver dryer.

Good news is...first, since you're leaking pag oil you obviously have already lost all of your freon to atmosphere, so no need to have someone recover it. Second, in an 85 Carrera, the compressor and condensers should have o-ring fittings, which the Griffith's hoses come with, so no need for adapters. It's plug and play. Griffith's hoses will fit perfectly. Finally, your compressor and condensers will work with R-134, you just need to install the adapter fittings on the compressor (if you haven't already) to accept the snap-on type fittings that R-134 charging systems use.

I'd plan on making it a project over several weekends in the winter. Then, in the spring, take it to someone who can pull a vacuum for about an hour and recharge. You should be good to go for next summer.

Good advice.

It has been 10 years since I changed the hoses on my car. And of course the evaporator, and the receiver dryer, and added the two extra condensers, to get me to 4 total condensers. It is mostly a dirty job, not that hard. The system has been flawless since and 50,000+ nice cool miles.

[piscator]

I agree with Johan, barrier hose is cheap and so are the fittings. I have bought from and like Griffith's A LOT!! But the hoses are not rocket science.

Buy the raw materials, take a little time to match the hose lengths you have and cut new hose with a v-shaped hose cutter. Match the fittings you have with new ones. Dry fit the new fittings to the new hose. Double check them against the old hose. Mark the new hose and the new fitting to insure proper line up. Take them to any local A/C or Hydraulic hose shop for crimping.

I've purchased hose and fittings from these folks. They don't specialize in Porsche, but they are very knowledgeable and their service is terrific. The owner was always quick to take my calls and answer questions

https://nostalgicac.com/

[86 911 Targa]

I also bought hoses and fittings from
Nostalgic.

Great people, always helped me out.

I put the car on jack stands.

It took about a week to get it done.

Yes, dirty & messy job.

All of the above posts are spot on.

pm me as needed.

Good luck

Gerry

[patkeefe]

Buy your own hose and fittings, and a tool for crimping them from MasterCool in NJ (Amazon) You can make your own hoses fairly inexpensively this way. The tool is like $150.

[piscator]

Pat, I think Nostalgic Air sells the tool as well.