I have recently replaced the inner and outer tie rod ends, pitman arm, idler arm, upper control arms with ball joints and was trying to replace the lower ball joints but I couldn't get the truck high enough to get at it properly with a pickle fork. Can you even use a pickle fork? I couldn't get a good enough swing to do any good. I guess I'm going to try a ball joint press next. Do I have remove the tie rod ends, caliper and rotor to use a press? These ball joints are the bolt in type so I don't need to grind any rivets. I've already had the bolts loose but I couldn't separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Pretty much everything I've seen is referring to 4wd so I don't know if even applies to my truck. Any help is welcome.

 

What you could try is hitting the knuckle with a hammer, sometimes that will work. If that doesn't, I would try hitting the top of the stud of the ball joint (make sure to put the nut on it until its flush) and use an extension or whatever needed to get it high enough to get a good hit. I have never worked on a 2wd second gen.

 

So I ended up getting the weird looking ball joint separater from harbor freight and it worked just fine, best $20 I ever spent add t harbor freight.

 

Glad you got it out!

 

Got a photo of it or a web link to that separator that you picked up from Harbor Freight that you can share?