Clamp Champ - Automobile Style: Fixing a Leak with a $2 Clamp

Picture of hose clamp on power steering reservoir

I enjoy watching and learning from the I Like to Make Stuff YouTube channel. Some of the more complicated woodworking projects require what looks like a ridiculous number of clamps to hold pieces in place while the glue sets. The channel uses an onscreen graphic that says “Clamp Champ” during these setups. In my case, I only needed one clamp, but it was the champ because it solved my problem.

There was a power steering leak coming from the car. It was running down the hose from the power steering fluid reservoir and dripping from the lowest point of the hose to the ground. I tightened the hose clamp, which didn’t solve the problem. The leak stopped when I replaced the German-style worm clamp with a standard hose clamp. Upon further inspection original clamp was stripped and didn’t provide the clamping force needed to prevent the leak.

I may not have used as many clamps as they use in I Like to Make Stuff, but the new clamp is definitely a clamp champ in my book. A $2 clamp solved my problem and was an easy fix. Have you ever had a “Clamp Champ” moment? Please share below in the comments.

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