99 Silhouette Half shaft, CV joint, Drive axle (same thing pick your term).

[72mino]

I'm replacing the wheel bearings on my van. Driver side went pretty well. I mushroomed the end of the half shaft on the passenger side, and that was with the nut on flush with the end of the shaft. So, I need to replace the half shaft. I'm trying to separate the lower ball joint from the knuckle and it won't break loose. I have a spring compressor on, though I didn't need it on my cousin's Grand Prix.
According to the instructions there should be a pinch bolt (the Grand Prix did have one), but the knuckle is solid there, so it must be a press fit. I tried a pickle fork, but it hits the edge of the lower control arm and I can't get it at an angle where it will clear everything and I can swing a hammer. I tried a large crow bar using a jack to keep pressure on it while I alternate between hitting the knuckle and lower control arm with no luck.
Am I doing something wrong, or is it just being stubborn?
Any help would be appreciated.

Dustin

[72mino]

Nevermind. I had an idea about 10 minutes after I posted this. I jacked the knuckle up to just before it would lift off the jack stand and that let the pickle fork go over the lower control arm. It popped loose no problem when the pickle fork could work like it should. Hopefully this can help someone else out.