spectrapremium.com Radiator service & repair Figure 4: Flat aluminum tube and fin cores are soldered to aluminum headers, which are then crimped onto plastic header tanks with a gasket in between. Shape shifters Did you know that some radiators actually change their size during normal operation? It's true! In fact, a 40 inch core aluminum radiator can grow (or expand) by about 0.160" along the length of the tubes. That's why many radiators are not bolted down, but rather float in rubber bushings instead. But keep in mind that these rubber bushings can also deteriorate over time, getting hard enough to the point where they no longer allow movement. As radiator temperatures increase, something has to give, and without this room for expansion, you could have a leak or a burst on your hands. See Figure 3. March 2017 * ACTION 23http://www.spectrapremium.com