Any experience with tool set KD 41690 Front End Service Kit? For W126 front end?
 

Anyone have experience with or opinions on this set of tools? I'm looking to use it on a W126 front end. Price at TheToolWarehouse.net is $75.75, which is not much more than I'd pay for just the cone shaped ball joint puller from MB (or Samstag, etc.). I have a cheap scissor-type joint puller, but the center pin is already bent from an unsuccessful use on another control arm joint and I'm afraid it will break or simply not fit on the W126 ball joint.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/KD-41690.html

Contains pitman arm puller (22x140 mm), tie rod puller, universal ball joint separator, tie rod end puller/pitman arm puller, and universal tie rod end remover.

That's a good buy. But you won't need everything in the set. The lever-type separator is all you really need. NAPA sells it for under $20. Autozone will lend a Pitman arm puller if you need that.
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=SER&PartNumber=3916&Description=Ball+Joint+Separator

I just did the upper and lower ball joints on my 126 and the upper came apart easily with a ball joint separator but on the lower joint after breaking the separator and using a pickle fork with a 4lb hammer for three hours I finally just drilled out the center of the shaft and knocked it out with a ball pein hammer and punch.

Phil: "Drilled out the center of the shaft"? Didn't that alone take more than 3 hours?

Which kind of separator did you break on the lower ball joint?

I haven't had any experience with the KD Tool Set. However, the main thing to make the cost worthwhile is whether the tools will work in applications on the MB (maybe a comparison with Samstag's listing). If so, then you have a deal. From my understanding, KD Tools are very high quality and carry a good warranty.

First- What I drilled out was the center of the ball joint shaft and I was suprised at how easily it drilled. I was expecting it to be very hard to drill but thought I would try since nothing else was working.

Second - I was using a scissor type separator and the ears snapped off with the amount of pressure that was on it.