Called up Autozone looking for a rear wheel bearing and oil seal for my '83 Bronco this afternoon, it went about like this.

You probably have the 8.8" rear end?
No, it's the 9".
Hmm, somebody must have changed it then...Ahh, here it is, you need the inner or outer bearing?
Huh? you sure your not looking up a 3/4 ton?
Uh Heh Heh oops, I found it, we have three on the shelf, and 2 seals.

I decided I had better take the bearing down with me in case it turns out to be the wrong one, so I spent a few hours tearing it apart and by this time it's 6:30 and Autozone is the only parts store still open. After I get there I give them the part number he told me about over the phone, after double checking it he says they have 3 on the shelf. When he returns from looking for it,
Uh Heh Heh oops, must be something wrong with the computer because we ain't got any, I can have it here first thing Wednesday for you though. As I turn to leave the store, he wants to know if I still want the oil seal. Sheesh!

alanscott

[link:ford-trucks.com/users/alanscott/|http://www.ford-trucks.net/users/alanscott/clubftesml.jpg]...Click!

 

You have to remember, at times that you are dealing with someone who believes that if it shows it (or doesn't show it) in the computer then it either exists or not. They don't know how to go look first! Or look it up in a book for that matter! Had that same type of experience with Hi-lo(before the name change!)

I needed u-joints for my 66 Mustang, and I went thereinstead of where I normally go. (The place I normally go was closed)

So he goes and looks it up in the computer, not there. Looks it up in the book, (miracle of miracles) he finds them. The whole time I am standing there wondering where they found this kid.

He comes back and hands me the two boxes. I paid for them and left. Needless to say one was entirely too big, and the other one was too stinking small. Now what was I supposed to do! I had the car apart, and it was my only form of transportation so I was essentially stuck like chuck. I now know to take the ones off that I need and take them in with me to compare them!!!!!


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Yes I beleive that fellows name is BS Bubba, we have at least one of those in each of our parts stores around here.

Dustin

 

I know how that is when i was trying to get a fan clutch for a ranger called them up asked them the guy just started going into prices for a clutch instead so i just went to murrays and got one from them they seem to be more knolagable at murrays i think the people at auto zone have to pass a know it all cockyness test before they hired.

Curtis
77_F150_4x4 aka
"The BeAsT"

 

Thats why it pays to go to a "Parts Store". Not a "Chain Parts Store".
Robert

 

I had the same experience at autozone by my house with a carb kit. They told me they had one in stock I went to get it but they didn't have it even though the computer said they did. They said they would have tuesday then tuesday they said friday. all the parts stores I went to didn't have it. I guess every one decided to rebuild the carbs at the same time. Eric

 

i am not recommending autozone, but if everyone els is closed and you need to go there you can go to there web site and look up your parts yourself. you can also check to see if they have it in stock. www.autozone.com
mark

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 25-Feb-01 AT 10:19 PM (EST) by webmaster (admin)[/font][p]Hey guys do not forget about XXXXXXXXXXXXXX ,you can always get what you need. Besides if you run into a problem call the store most of the time NAPA uses the best people. It s the only place i have worked, 13years.

(edited by Admin -- do not use the site to promote your employer's web site)

 

Hi, I needed a ujoint for the front axle on my F250 went to advance auto they brought out everyone except the one I needed they tried to tell me it had external clips I told them I replaced the one on the other side and it was internal clips. Finally had enough and drove another 15 miles to NAPA the guy said what year what make F250? okay be right back came back with the right one first try!!! it is just so much farther than advance auto takes me 40 minutes to get there.
John

 

All of these stories sound way too familiar. It wasn't too long ago when I could go into my local parts store of choice and even if I was unsure what I needed, "my" parts guy could find the right part. If he didn't have it or couldn't get it he always knew someone around town that had an extra one lying around. I miss those days. Our last remaining independent parts store sold out to a chain a couple of years ago and since all has changed.

I've gone from looking for the guy who could tell me what I needed to hoping to find someone who had the capability of understanding what I needed.

Nate

1964 F-100 Custom Cab 292 V-8 3 spd
1964 F-100 292 V-8 3 spd
1990 F-150 5.8L
Check out http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/fordpickups61to66fseries

 

I hate it when I go to the parts store looking for let's say brake pads and they will ask a dumb question like: "does that have AC?" uhhh!

 

Or when you go in for an oxygen sensor, and they ask you "is that a two wheel drive or four wheel drive"

And you are thinking "what difference does it make, they list the same part for both!"


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Sorry about that I did not mean to step outside the lines.

 

I guess then that this is not a local problem. The best parts store around here was Bob's Big A, old style store with well worn wooden counters and fan belts hanging from about every free space on the walls and an excellent machine shop in the back. Then Carquest opened shop about a mile away, bought him out and closed the store to remove any competition, of course closing the machine shop in the process.

alanscott

[link:ford-trucks.com/users/alanscott/|http://www.ford-trucks.net/users/alanscott/clubftesml.jpg]...Click!

 

I know that I try and avoid the "walmart" style auto parts suppliers. Not because their parts are wrong but because the people there generally have never turned a wrench at least once in their life. When I find a place that has people who can answer my ?'s while giving me advice, I'll go there. Even if it costs a few bucks more.

Unfortunatly it is getting doggone hard to find them.

98 F250LD 4X4