I'll try to make this short...As far as I can tell you have to get the wheel bearing off before you can get to the upper and lower ball joints. Today my dad and I wrecked two pullers and just about drained a bottle of accetalyne trying to get the wheel bearing off. We gave up because we decided that what we were trying to get to (the upper ball joint) really isn't that bad and it's not worth replacing a $220 wheel bearing to get to it. So the question is, is there a trick to getting the wheel bearing off without wrecking it? We have all four bolts off and it just seems to be rust welded on.

 

yeah you loosen the four bolts that hold the bearing assembly on. Then wedge a bar between the head of the bolt and the frame of the truck and use your power steering to press it out. That is the only way i've ever been able to get them off

 

Correct! Snapon makes a tool just for this. I have a write around here someplace about this while process. Be sure the weight of the truck is on the axle as well by using jack stands or else it won't work.