1998 v70 Obtain Those Little Rubber Vacuum Elbows

Post by **MrAl** » 08 Jun 2015, 12:26

Hi,

Anyone know where to get these things? I ordered a couple on line but they turned out to be a little too big. The vacuum lines are a little smaller than the elbow inside diameters. I know i can rig it up somehow, but i would much more like to get the right elbows as they are not that expensive i bet. These were cheap too, about 1 dollar each.

Thanks much...

Post by **cn90** » 08 Jun 2015, 12:55

Just use some generic vacuum line.

Post by **MrAl** » 08 Jun 2015, 13:41

Hi,

That's an interesting idea, and i think that would work for some connections. However, two that i'd like to replace happen to come out of the back of the air cleaner compartment and make a sharp right bend, toward the center of the engine compartment, and there's little room for a wide bend that would not kink the hose.
Also, one of the vacuum lines is much thinner than the rest, im not sure why, but its' like less than 1/8 inch or something while the others are a little wider. Not sure why they would do that but it's a thinner line that needs an elbow too. The other line is wider like the rest, which might work ok.
I was just hoping to get a part number or something to look up on the web and order a couple that would fit naturally.
Any possibility of that?

rwmm415 · Post by **rwmm415** » 08 Jun 2015, 17:26

I find that places like Kragen and Autozone now carry small packages of generic auto parts like nylon door panel fasteners and vacuum connectors. I bought a package of elbows (6-8 of various sizes, IIRC) at Autozone last year. Sorry I don't have the package any more or I'd send you the SKU. So all I can say is check your local parts superstore and see if you find a section of small generic parts like this. Good luck.

Post by **E Showell** » 08 Jun 2015, 20:14

Al -- My local Advance Auto -- On Route 46 in Hackettstown -- carries a generic Dorman brand 90 degree vacuum elbow that works for that location. We can make a run up there when you come to observe the suspension work if you'd like.

Post by **MrAl** » 09 Jun 2015, 04:46

Hi,

Thanks rwmm, i'll check that right away.

Thanks ES, we have an AutoZone right in town now (i think 1 mile away or even a little less ! where Thule used to be) but if they dont have one i'll check Advance, and yes thanks, if i dont find it i'll wait till fix it day then and i guess we can both go. Thanks for that too.

Funny how these little things become more important when they break off. One was dry rotted i guess and broke into pieces.

Post by **jreed** » 09 Jun 2015, 05:07

I had the 'crumbly elbow' syndrome on my '97 855 GLT a few years back and bought some aftermarket replacement elbows which quickly crumbled again. Then someone on MVS told me to try thick wall silicone tubing instead. The thick wall allows you to bend the tubing 90 degrees or so without collapsing or kinking. I've been using it for about 8 years and it works great.

Post by **MrAl** » 09 Jun 2015, 06:27

Hi,

Sounds interesting, but where do you get the thick wall silicon tubing?

One of my elbows actually as a 1/16 inch inside diameter hole to accommodate a 1/16 inch vacuum line ! I didnt know they made vacuum lines that thin.
That's very small, while the others are more standard like 1/8 inch inside diameter.

Post by **E Showell** » 09 Jun 2015, 07:48

I don't know about the silicone hoses, but I just keep a few of the generic ones "in inventory."

Post by **erikv11** » 09 Jun 2015, 08:41

cn90 wrote:Just use some generic vacuum line.

MrAl wrote:... That's an interesting idea, and i think that would work for some connections. However, two that i'd like to replace happen to come out of the back of the air cleaner compartment and make a sharp right bend, toward the center of the engine compartment, and there's little room for a wide bend that would not kink the hose. ...

The idea with generic vacuum line is to replace the whole line, elbow, hard plastic and all, not just the elbow. That way there is plenty of room for bends. It's much simpler that fiddling about with specific elbows, and a quality, thick-walled rubber vacuum line will be cheap and last several years. The hard plastic lines you are connecting the elbows to are 20 years old, they are due for cracks now too, I like to just get rid of them. Thick-walled silicone can be used the same way, either can be had at most parts stores or if your local ones don't have the silicone you can order it online from lots of vendors. Stick to the thick-walled stuff.