A/C Hose Replacement - anybody do this one?
 

My A/C hose, right underneath the compressor, burst last summer.

The hose runs from right under the compressor to the radiator. I checked with Phil and he can get the part for $370 (Still beats dealer price of $570).

My question is - can i replace this myself? How much of a PITA are we talking here? Hopefully I can do this without removing the radiator.

Anyone have experience with this? Car is a 1995 E420.

Thanks,
Troy

I do not know about the replacement - never done it, but I do know you can have hoses rebuilt by shops in your area. Check the yellow pages, especially for places that do hydraulic hose rebuilding.

The price will be WAY less than either figure you quoted above.

I'm considering that option too - given them time involved to remove, deliver to shop, get back from shop, and replace, I was considering a new part as an alternative.

I just had an a/c manifold repaired on a Ford product. The hose needed to be replaced, so I found a shop that took care of that for $60.

For $250 you can buy a bench-top crimper to crimp your own hose lines. With ferrules and hose you'd still be under dealer or Phil's cost.

Thanks - I'll take the hose out this weekend and see if I can get it rebuilt - should save some big $ over new. Hopefully i don't have to take the entire engine apart to disconnect it.

The AC hose in my car was leaking. I took it to an A/C shop and they evacuated my system, rebilt the hose and recharged the system and it all cost less than buying just the hose.

Years ago when I had a Rolls Silver Shadow I took it to Pep Boys. They removed the hose, repaired it and charged me $70.00! Rolls wanted $500 plus, and that was just for the hose.