Can’t separate upper control arm ball joint and knuckle.

[2009_Suburban]

I’m replacing the upper control arms, and the ball joint shaft on the upper control arm won’t separate from the knuckle. So far I have tried hammering the arm and knuckle, and sticking a 3 foot pry bar between the knuckle and part of the arm between the ball joint and the end. I have sprayed it with penetrant. So far I have not gotten it to move at all. How can I remove it? Tomorrow I may try to buy a pickle fork and see if that works. Does anyone know what size I should get?

[richard wysong]

large. I have not used a pickle fork in years, take a LARGE hammer and strike the side of the knuckle where the BJ taper passes through it and it will pop loose, striking anywhere else won't help

[2009_Suburban]

I tried striking that part with a sledgehammer coming from about 8 inches away. I could try turning the wheel and hitting it as hard as I can, but I don't want to break anything.

[2018GMC]

Propane torch on the surrounding area and hammer the side. Not sure if you are in the rust belt but heat and hammering the side not directly on the ball joint is what helped me. Sounds like yours may be heavily rusted and now one part. 

Try a different penetrating oil like Deep Creep.
Deep Creep | Premium Penetrating Oil & Lubricant for Shop & Household (seafoamworks.com)
 

 

[2009_Suburban]

I got a pickle fork from autozone, and put some flat metal pieces under the prongs as it wasn’t tall enough, and it worked!