[honda_luvr_2000]

yeah ball joints use a tapered pin to "bite" into the control arm so it's a firm connection. they sumtimes need a bit of force to pop them off.
but i'm a little concerned. if u were able to move the knuckle away from the control arm AT ALL then u hit resistance, then that means u have play in ball joint. worn to the point of soon failing. that'll be a mess when that gives way. u'r lower control arm will drop to the ground and slide along until the car comes to a stop, and forget trying to steer to avoid anything then. happened to my brother, lower ball joint failed on him and it killed the tire, a whole about the size of a tennis ball got worn into it because the wheel got dragged sideways (yes 90 degrees from straight ahead) from 60mph to zero. no steering responce. ground a nice amount off of the lower control arm too.

not to scare u, but suspension is the only thing allowing u to control the car. if it goes, u go wherever the car wants to take u. i'd double check that if i were u. since u said the knuckle did lift, but then the ball joint was holding it from moving farther. it's real easy to check, if the knuckle is still off the lower control arm, just grab the pin and see if u can push/pull it in/out of the ball socket. if u put it all back together, just lift the corner of the car, and then lift the wheel by the wheel and check to see if u have any play in the lower ball joint.

now that i reread wut u said, maybe it was just the tierod holding u back, but it should have still had enough range to allow the lower ball joint to clear the lower control arm. oh well u'r call, not a lot of work to check for wear.