2001 2wd blazer. Lower ball joints are pressed in and I've been having a headache trying to get them out and really needed to get them out by today so please chime in and help me out! I have researched everywhere and have asked on blazer Facebook groups how to get these suckers out. I have a ball joint press and many adapters. From what it looks like to me, the ball joint presses out down. Once I find the right adapters to fit the joint, seems though that the clamp is too small to fit large adapter on bottom and smaller one up top. But have been told numerous things such as there is a snap ring, I do not see one. As well as it presses out through the top. Please chime in and if you have any pics, I would appreciate them.

 

This is a case where the Factory service information differs from Chilton.

The factory says use "special tool J9519-30" which looks just like your ball joint press set with the big C clamp. There is no snap ring or retainer in these balljoints.

Chilton says this:
For this job, I'd follow Chilton. The factory presses the ball joints in. Then, as you drive, they are "corrosion welded" to the lower control arm.

Older ones (your's is old enough to qualify for a learners driving permit in most states) take more force to remove. It's like removing a seized bolt, but on a larger scale. It will take a combination of heat, pressure, penetrating lube and vibration (BFH) to break things loose. The "right tool for the job" at 15 years is a really strong hydraulic press (20 tons or more rating), possibly in combination with a good oxy-acetylene torch set and some patience.

Also, I think it presses out the bottom. Look at your new part. The big end won't go through the hole. Press it so the big end comes out.

 

the way i do these types of ball joints, some of the hondas and fords are the same way, take a cut off wheel and hack off the top part of the ball joint flush with the bottom part (hack off the shiney moving part as close as you can to the base) then use your ball joint press you have. find a cup that fits over the bottom part of the ball joint (the part with the grease fitting) so it can be pushed into it and push on the part you just cut off.

using the press by hand can sometime be a pain in the butt, a impact makes short work of any stuck ball joint

that ball joint kit in the right side of the picture is pretty much all i have and it works on almost every car