It's out. The only thing different I did was leave the lower steering arm attached to the steering knuckle. That apparently was enough to change the angle of approach for the smaller pickle fork to allow it to enter the joint and not hit the inside of the semi circular casting, limiting the entry of the taper on the pickle fork. I also used a smaller sledge hammer, maybe a 1 pounder on the pickle fork.

I stopped to take a measurement on the threads extending out of the eyelet so I could see if it was moving and thought I'd just whack the top of the stud a few times with the baby sledge just for grins and it fell right out. I had already whacked the top of the stud with the 5 pounder till it was rounded off.

Go figure.

Maybe it was the swearing, maybe it was the threat to push it outside in the freezing rain coming this weekend.

I asked the car and it's giving me the slient treatment. Probably because I made fun of the suspension design, or it could have been the swearing (I did get rather creative, and I work in a machine shop).

I've got it back together with the new/used knuckle with new joint pressed in, a new UCA, and new bushings between the sway bar and the UCA. Steering knuckle looks good and straight, just like the other side, the wheel should no longer be leaned in.

Just to let me know all is not forgiven, the new nylok nut for the Lemforder UCA joint decided to stop tightening before it was tight. I'll have to get another nut from the shop tomorrow and maybe put a tiny bit of blue Loctite on it.

If not for that, I would have put everything back together tonight. Or maybe not, I think an adult beverage may be in order. Maybe two.

Thanks again for the encouragement, I knew you guys had done it and it was possible. I've actually done this kind of stuff before, I've seen them pop apart when I've given them the correct motivation. I have no idea why this one was so obstinate.

The only thing I can come up with is the fact that the steering knuckle took that hit and maybe jammed it in the bore? Who knows, I'm just glad it's out.