Break loose steering knuckle from UCA?

Anybody got some tips and tricks on how to get the steering knuckle free from the upper control arm? I've got the castle nut off the ball joint shaft but the taper will not come free from the knuckle. I'd strongly prefer not to destroy the ball joint because nothing in town is open today and I don't know when I can get a replacement. I've tried hammering on the side of the steering knuckle as suggested in a few youtube videos but I'm not sure how aggressive I can be with that. I've got a little PB Blaster sitting on it now. Oh, and I used a jack to try and compress/decompress the suspension a few times to try and get some wiggle on it that way. It's a 2013 4x4 ext cab.

 

You can be pretty aggressive hitting the side of it.

Some people will say you can put the castle nut back on and hit that, but be careful not to damage the threads.

 

A pickle fork will most likely destroy the rubber boot.

 

Not sure what you mean by that, thread it part way on and hit the top of the nut? I've always been told to never hammer the ball joint stud of a joint you were planning on re-using.

 

Get a bigger hammer

 

Thread the castle nut back on a few threads just so it doesn’t come flying apart and knock the hell out of the uca without hitting the boot. If it doesn’t work get a bigger hammer.

 

Put the castle nut back on so that the spindle doesn't smack you in the face, then smack the spindle with a BFH a few times. I used a three pound hammer and wasn't gentle. Third hit it popped out.

 

Thanks for the replies! I'm gonna go back out the garage and beat on things I guess.

 

I had to use a 10lb sledge hammer hitting the side of mine to pop mine loose. I was hesitant to hit it too hard but my neighbor who is a mechanic and builder of off road things said the only thing I could damage is something near by if I swing and miss otherwise hit it like you mean it and it WILL come loose.

 

Hell. yes.

I was able to get a little leverage with my breaker bar between the knuckle and CA, applied a little pressure and got a bigger hammer and I'm in business. Thanks everyone!

 

Nothing like a bigger hammer. I've developed quite a collection, my big brass hammer is a prized possession