[ElGracho]

Funny you should mention ball joints. I spent the long weekend (Veterans day and all...) working on the front end of my 84 K10. Once I got down to the ball joints, I hit the upper stud with my 2lb mini thor hammer and it popped both joints free in about 54 blows. The other side was different. I got the upper stud to pop free but the lower stud wouldn't no matter what. I tried using a separator on my air chisel, but it still wouldn't go. I finally took the snap ring off the lower ball joint, hit the upper stud a few more times and the lower ball joint pulled out of the knuckle and then I hit the lower ball joint stud and it popped right out the of housing.

I don't think I've ever successfully used a pickle fork. The hammer usually works for me.