Need to replace the ball joints in a 1996 S10 Blazer. Does anyone have any experience with these? Hear it is a PITA, but how bad is it really.

Any special tricks or just work through it carefully. Don't feel like handing out $300+ for labor right now

 

There have been some write up's on this forum, but it is sometimes hard to pull up on a 'Search' .See that bar at the top of the page and try that. I have had great luck with the Youtube.com video's . Go there and do a search and you will find many on the subject. Take a look and you will select a few that will help you step by step through the process. Be sure to include all the pertinent info on your vehicle such as year, make, model, 4X4 . 2 or 4 door, and so on. I like to include the S-10 in with the Blazer. This is to help you get to the right info quickly. Good luck, Jim BTW you may find that the upper Ball Joints are shot but the lowers are still good and vice versa. If the mileage is high, you may want to replace both of them anyway. One tip on whether the existing B/J are original or 'already been replaced at least once' is how they are currently attached. If they are held on by rivets, then they are original. If they are held on by bolts, then they have been replaced at least once.

 

If you have the bolts, they are very easy and straight forward to change out.
If you have the rivets, they are a PITA but doable. A cutting, air chisel and air hammer are the easiest way I've found to get the rivets out.
If you have 4wd, jacking up the lower control arm is pretty much a necessity.
Use a pickle fork to separate the ball joints.
If you've never done this job on any vehicle, by all means get a manual AND watch some videos. I don't trust every video out there.
If you don't have the tools, particularly an air compressor, you might be better of paying to have it done. If you do have an air compressor but not the tools, a lot of parts store lend the tools out free with a required deposit.

That's a whole bunch of IF's!

 

Here's a video from 1A Auto on how to replace the front suspension on a 2000 to 2006 Chevy Suburban 1500. It will give you some idea of how much of a job it will be and what tools you will need. .......Another thing I didn't get into with the Ball Joint replacement is this: You can replace just the two ball joints on each side or you can replace the upper and lower control arms with the new ball joints already installed.

 

For some reason, the 1A auto vid in my post above won't play. Just go direct to 1Auto.com and then go to their video section--no charge-and look for an S-10 Blazer video on front suspension replacement. There is no charge. Or go to the youtube.com and search for S-10 Blazer ball joint replacement. Be sure to mention 2WD or 4WD.