To carry refrigerant between the air conditioning system components, special types of hoses and pipes must be used.
They must be capable of withstanding the high pressures and temperatures that are found inside the system, as well as being able to flex and withstand the vibrations and movement of the engine.
Hoses are used to connect the inlet and outlet ports of the compressor to the air-conditioning system.
The hose connections are crimped to the hose and use special unions that must be carefully assembled to avoid leaks.
Pipes are rigid tubes of metal often found connecting components that are fixed to the body of the vehicle.
All pipes must have properly formed bends and must be secured to the vehicle body to prevent fatigue cracks.
The connections can be made with flared flanges, or threaded unions that are welded to the pipe.
