Auto repair

Does anyone know if an automotive tool rental place in the lower mainland?  I need more than one specific tool, but for starters I need a tool for removal and installation of a compliance bushing for a lower control arm.  I'd prefer to just replace the bushing than to purchase a new control ar

Can't find anything with Google.  Lots of tool rental place are for construction tools.  Canadian Tire no longer has a loaner program, nor do other stores like Parts Source.

when all is said and done it could be the same $$ to replace the control arm but i assume you looked at that

Yeah.. dont waste your time. Change the whole control arm.

Canadian tire used to rent tools for practically nothing. Have you checked them?

The Canadian Tire stores around here no longer rent tools.

Bushing is $40, control arm is $150 (aftermarket - OEM is ridiculously expensive).  So about $240 (with tax) to replace control arms.  Plus if only the bushings are changed it will be less likely to need a wheel alignment.

But thanks for the replies.  I don't think I can McGiver something so the whole arm is probably the way I'll go.

Ya. Bushings are pressed in and theyre a bitch to change at the best of time.. new control arm will come with a new ball joint too so you'll likely need a pickle fork at least. Mark the eccentric bolts before you take it off for reassembly and the alignment will be close enough to get to an alignment shop.

You can buy press kits for like $60.

I have one you can borrow if you want. You can use sockets to increase the range of bushings and ball joints you can press in or out.

Unfortunately, the lower ball joint is separate from the control arm, so no free ball joint with the purchase.

I have a ball joint separator and pickle fork and prefer to use the separator if I'm keeping the ball joint.  I like that tool - sometimes sounds like a gun shot when the joint finally separates.

Thanks for the offer on the press kit Mark. I don't think it will be wide enough as the receiving tube/sleeve needs to be at least 3-1/2 inches and it also needs an exact size pressing tube/cup that's in the 3 inch range.

The jaw opening on that thing is 6.25" 

A: Removal Adapter (1.148" L x 1/2" I.D. x 3" O.D.)

B: Screw

C: Installing Cup (3.676" L x 1-3/4" I.D. x 2" O.D.)

D: Installation Adapter (1.122" L x 0.941" I.D. x 3" O.D.)

E: Forcing-screw Press (Inner Length: 6.22"/158mm)

F: Receiving Cup (2-1/2" L x 2" I.D. x 2-1/4" O.D.)

G: Receiving Tube (1-3/4" L x 1-3/4" I.D. x 2" O.D.)

H: Receiving Tube (1-3/4" L x 2-1/4" I.D. x 2-1/2" O.D.)

I: Receiving Tube (2-1/4" L x 2.723" I.D. x 3" O.D.)

J: Install Cup Adapter (0.845" L x 1.879" I.D. x 2-1/4" O.D.)

If the old one gets a bit mangled coming out from using a slightly undersized press tube that's not a big deal, and then you use that as the old bushing as the press for the new one. In terms of a cup you could get a short piece of scrap pipe and cut it to fit.

I just bought new control arms for my '09 vehicle, as opposed to replacing the ball joints that needed doing. I figured that for about $100 more each side, I'm also replacing the bushings at the same time, and the labor is less.

So I ended up finding control arms for $138 each.  Install didn't take long - just big stuff to work with.  No more clunk.

No onto figuring out why the fuel trim is way too high at idle.  No vacuum leaks, valve lash adjusted, new MAF sensor and plugs, throttle body and IAC and EGR valve cleaned.  Perhaps it's time for an Autel.

After all that maintenance, is there a relearn procedure for the fuel/air system?

Just an idle relearn procedure.  The PCU/ECU should be constantly adjusting cell data with long term trim values.