[Roadtrip]

If you're not planning on saving the joints, a pickle fork works ok. Although a purpose built tool is better. Drop by your local Checkers or Autozone store. They'll probably have a tool in stock that will do the job.

Refurbing the front suspension isn't terribly difficult, but you do have to use some caution when dealing with the potential energy of the coil spring. A couple of long threaded rods, a floor jack, and some extra weight on the front of the car makes the job easy, if time consuming. R&R'ing the bushings in the lower A-arm assembly takes a pretty stout press, so they may have to go down to your local machine shop for a quick press job. DO NOT try and hammer them in. Those little bas***ds are about $25 each and you don't want to bugger them up. Be sure to check the rest of the steering system closely as well . . . . . all tie rod ends (especially the track rod to steering arm one, it seems to wear first), any looseness in the idle arm assembly, oil in the steering box, and the integrity of the steering box lower oil seal. Also look for any cracking of the bodywork at the steering box attachment area.