How do i replace the ball joints on a 1997 tahoe 4x4

SOURCE: repalce ball joints 01' Chevy Blazer 4WD

you should just be able to loosen the half shaft and be ok that way

Harvey N Tawatao

• 3854 Answers
• Posted on Jun 22, 2009

SOURCE: Trying to replace the rear u joint on a 2000 chevy

The U joint is glued in place if there the original. I use and blow torch to heat up the U joint's to melt the glue and use a hydraulic press to get the old u joints out. Do not use a 5 pound hammer to hammer out the U joint unless you don't mine a vibration in your drive shaft. The drive shaft are lighter now then the past and will damage to hard hammering. If there is a Auto Zone around your area, you can lone out a U joint removal tool which is cheaper then a new drive shaft. It's like a clamp, but one end has a cup shape to hold the drive shaft as the other end pushes the U joint out. Good luck and hope this helps. P.S don't burn your self. 

SOURCE: upper and lower ball joints

Jack the truck clear of the ground and let the wheel assembly hang. After you remove the tire place your jack under the lower control arm so it's firm. Remove the cotter pin, if you have one and loosen the big nut almost off. Wedge a "pickle fork" between the control arm and the spindle and give it a belt with a hammer until the ball joint pops. Raise the jack so you can undo the nut easily and separate the control arm and spindle.
The upper ball joint is riveted or bolted in. Grind the rivets or use a cold chisel and remove the ball joint. Clean up the area with some sandpaper, dirt , loose rust, etc.and put the new joint in. Put the spindle back on using the jack if necessary and put the nut back on and tighten.
The lower ball joint is pressed in. Tie the spindle out of the way and brace the lower control arm with some blocks or the jack if you have to. A few whacks with a hammer should pop the joint out. Clean the hole out lightly, just to remove loose rust and dirt. Put the ball joint, minus the grease fitting ,,in the hole and use the jack with a block of wood, to put it in place.You may have to fiddle with the spindle to make sure it is lined up. I've never had any trouble using a 1ton trolley jack and the weight of the truck to put the lower ball joint back in. Replace the nut and grease fitting.
The new ball joints will probably come with cotter pins, use them. Make sure the new joints are tight or they will wear the holes in the spindle. Don't forget to grease the new joints. Hope this helps.

SOURCE: how to remove lower ball joint 2001 chevy silverado 2500 hd 4x4

The reason is they are pressed in and you have to press them out with a tool and some have a C clip that has to be removed you can go to schucks or autozone to rent the tool to press out and it has to be pressed back in.

SOURCE: replace upper ball joint 2003 silverado 1500

The ball joints on both 2wd and 4wd upper are pressed in you need to remove snap ring and using a hammer pop out the old one out this is after you seperate the upper arm from the spindle. To install the new ball joint you should use a ball joint press that you can rent at most autoparts shops