You can do this without a pickle fork. once you get it in the air with the wheels turned away from the side you're working on, the wheel off and the, and the car on jackstands...

1. remove the cotter pin and nut from the lower ball joint
2. get someone with a 3' pry bar to pry down on the swing arm from the subframe of the car
3. BFH the hell out of the joint from the side being careful not to hit your friend

it will pop loose after a few good whacks and you're not going to hurt it like this.

this way, you don't tear the lower ball joint boot like you will with a pickle fork; thus, you won't be forced to replace that part. all you'll need is a new cotter pin, a big pry-bar, and someone that's not afraid of you swinging the BFH.

:thumbup: