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FAQs

Our goal is for you to view NORMA Americas DS as a trusted business partner. We’re here to provide you with so much more than just our clamps. Whether you need product information or technical support, please feel free to reach out to us directly at 855.NORMA.2U (855.667.6228), or check out our list of frequently asked questions below for helpful answers to some of the common inquiries we receive.

Quality

Each clamp is engineered with a specific combination of metal to withstand the condition it’s used in but most NORMA clamps are made from high-quality stainless steel and galvanized steel to prevent corrosion and clamp failure.

NORMA offers more than 40,000 SKUs of engineered joining technology solutions to more than 10,000 customers around the globe. NORMA branded aftermarket clamps are used in a number of different industries and applications, from passenger and commercial vehicles to trains, ships, military vehicles and aircrafts. They are also used in commercial buildings, water management systems and in biotechnology.

NORMA Group boasts one of the world’s best-equipped laboratories, which conducts life cycle tests for all relevant applications, including water, fuel, exhaust, turbocharger and other air and gas applications. Its state-of-the-art test facilities support the development of new products and allow NORMA Group to test customer specifications. This includes testing for tensile strength, durability and corrosion resistance.

The temperature range ultimately depends on the clamp and the application it is being used on. We test all our products to ensure they can perform in real-world conditions and have lab equipment that simulates temperatures ranging from -104°F to 1742°F.

NORMA invests more than $30 million annually into product development, engineering and testing and spends more than 3,000 engineering hours on every product to design, develop and test it to ensure it meets OEM specifications. These clamps have been tested for performance and corrosion resistance in extreme conditions and are made from higher quality material for optimum performance. Some aftermarket clamps are made from inferior metal and aren’t tested to the same standards as NORMA Group.

It’s important to use clamps from a trusted source. NORMA’s clamps are manufactured from premium steel stock and made to exacting specifications for the same or better performance as their original equipment clamps. Many offshore-made aftermarket clamps are made from inferior steel and do not have the same durability and corrosion resistance as clamps made by reputable suppliers like NORMA.

Maintenance

Place the clamp just behind the hose bead and then tighten until the hose is slightly compressed. General specifications for worm drive hose clamps are noted below: 

  • 8mm wide clamp - 10-15 lb. in. 
  • 14mm wide clamp - 25-44 lb. in. 
  • 16mm wide clamp - 60 lb. in. 

Clamps that have been in use for thousands of miles may appear ok, but they eventually weaken. For example, a worm drive hose clamp may have hidden corrosion in the screw area causing a false torque specification and eventually, failure during use. Many exhaust clamps are TTY (Torque To Yield) and not intended for more than one-time use. It’s not worth risking a comeback to save a few dollars.

The best way to clamp a fuel line is with a lined clamp that mimics the design of the OE clamp, such as the NORMA ABA clamp, which has been designed and tested for use on rubber fuel lines. Worm drive hose clamps, on the other hand, are not designed for fuel systems and should not be used.

Clamps should be replaced every time they are removed. Reusing a clamp is risking a failure and comeback. Worse yet, if a cooling system clamp fails for example, it could cost the vehicle owner their engine. Reusing clamps on the intake system of a turbocharged diesel could lead to air leaks, loss of performance and more frequent DPF cleaning intervals. It’s always best practice to replace clamps every time maintenance on that system is performed.

Application Specific

V-Band clamps are typically used to provide a very robust connection for turbochargers to exhaust pipes. They are also used in exhaust systems to hold catalyst and diesel particulate filters.

T-Bolts are primarily used on large diameter rubber hoses in air intake systems. These can be turbo charged or supercharged intake systems. T-Bolts are designed to provide a leak free connection in pressurized systems.

In situations where there are wide fluctuations in ambient and operating temperatures. Constant tension clamps are designed to securely hold and keep hoses leak-free on systems that see expansion and contraction from temperature extremes during normal operation.

Yes. Many specialty clamps are used in today’s cars and trucks. Whether it’s a fuel line clamp, a constant torque clamp or other, we recommend always using a clamp that mimics the OE design and quality for best performance and safety.