AutoZone tool rentals

[Pop's Z]

Hi all, I just finished installing new KYBs and refreshing the 33 year old front suspension( new ball joints, outer tie rod ends, urethane bushings). The original parts were totally worn out. The car has only 71,000 original miles, but 33 years of aged rubber. The project went well and I wanted to give a "heads up" about renting tools for the job from AutoZone. My local store had a set of spring compressors that worked really well for a $40 deposit. They also had a tie rod seperator( part#27025) that worked well on both the tie rod ends and the ball joints for a $15 deposit. Don't bother to get the ball joint seperator(#27020) as it's too big to work on the Z's ball joints. The tools made the job fairly easy, and the improvement is terrific.

Mike

[Palmer]

Is the ball joint seperator(#27020) the big C clamp? I rented it also but told the guy I was doubtful I could use it, just didn't look right. The computer 'said' it was the right tool. I took it back because it was the wrong tool. I ended up using a pickle fork instead to get the tie rods loose and just tapped out the ball joints....

[Pop's Z]

The part# for the ball joint tool was for a larger pickle fork tool. It will not work as it is too big...it just slips off the ball joint. It is not the c-clamp tool. When you are at the desk at AutoZone there is a big laminated chart of all there rental tools.

Cheers,

Mike