Help w/ '97 Blazer ball joints

I'm attempting to replace the driver's side front half shaft (drive shaft) on my 1997 Blazer 4WD. I was doing good until it came time to remove the steering knuckle to get the shaft out. The ball joints, no matter how hard I try, will NOT seperate from the steering knuckle. I am on my last nerve here.

I have tried a pickle fork type tool to seperate the joint and succeeded in doing nothing more than tearing the boot. A ball joint press won't fit in the limited space between the ball joint stud and the half shaft. Chilton recommends an OEM tool (part #J-36607, whatever that is) that I can't seem to find anywhere. Haynes is typically vague and recommends the same pickle fork tool that has already done more harm than good. I refuse to pay the $700+ to have the dealer do the work.

So, does anybody have any tips on removing the ball joints from this model Blazer? Any help would be appreciated... even if it's just to confirm that I am out of luck, as I fear.

Thanks,
Scott
sabbey |at| eotr |dot| net

With everything off the side your working on and the ball joint nuts loose but not all the way off,beat the knuckle with a big hammer where the stud of the ball joint goes through the knuckle. Eventually they should break free. When I did my ball joints they were a bitch to break free but eventually they will give. GOOD LUCK

most of the time you need at least a 2lb hammer and some Barry Bonds style swinging to break those suckers loose if your pickle fork isn't wide enough it won't put enough pressure on the knuckle it just locks onto the balljoint. if you beat the shit out of the knuckle like Glen mentioned it'll break free. you might as well replace the balljoints since they are junk in the s-series anyways and you already ripped a boot.
have fun!!

Thanks guys. I guess I'll keep beating on it then. That SOB has got to break loose eventually. Any other tips are welcome. I'll keep checking back until I finally get it off.

The first time I tried, I bought a pickle fork from advance auto and it was too wide, didnt grip anything. I did end up finding a pickle fork set at sears that had 3 sizes in it, one of them (a little smaller than normal) did work. Still had to beat the hell out of one side but it eventually worked with a mallot. You only gotta do that once at least since the new ones wont be pressed in. If you eventually got yours out, let us know. If not, hopefully you can run to the nearest sears and buy that same set, it was about 40 bucks i think.

I finally got it apart. I went to Sears and got the set of forks. I used the little one and six or seven good whacks later, it came apart. It's amazing what a difference the right tools can make. Now, on to bigger and better things. Thanks for all your help!

One more note, I recommend that when you pry these balljoints off, keep the nut screwed on to the stud so that if it breaks free it wont shoot up and do any damage to you or your vehicle. Glad to know that the fork kit from sears has the right size for the blazer.

ok this is a trade secret, so you all owe me....

but next time you do this:

with the vehicle on the ground remove the center cap (if any) from the wheel and using the 36MM socket and a BAW (big ass wrench) break loose, but do not loosen the axle nut.

now raise the side, remove tire, remove caliper, remove rotor, now remove the loose nut. now use a $8 (from auto zone) tie rod tool and remove the tie rod, now hyper extend the 'knuckle' like you were in a serious left turn (for drivers side, right turn for passenger side)

you will be able to push the shaft in a bit and work it out, no ball joint removal needed.