98 Protege Driver side CV Axle shaft replacement
 

I'm in the middle of replacing my driver side cv axle shaft, but I'm having the hardest time removing the lower ball joint from the control arm. Are there any known tricks to this procedure? I've removed the clinch bolt and have used several techniques (ie pry bar, bfh, etc.) to pop the ball joint out but it won't budge. I don't want to ruin the ball joint so i've avoided using a pickle fork. I was wondering if it would just be easier to unbolt the entire ball joint assembly from the control arm rather than messing with the ball joint itself... and if so, will reassembly be less of a pain? Anyone versed in this area, I would greatly appreciate your assistance.

1998 Mazda Protege A/T w/o ABS 1.5L

I have used a small chisel in the slot that the clinch bolt holds to slightly, gingerly open up the slot around the ball joint shaft. Then, spray some penetrating oil[PB Blaster type stuff] and let it work for a few minutes. Then, with a BFH , whack the ever lovin' s#%t out of the control arm with downward force, just below the ball joint.
If that don't work....get out the pickle fork, actually two of them might be better.[one underneath the other] to pry it out.
What year model is your car? is the ball joint pressed into the control arm? Or is it integral with the control arm?
In some vehicle's front ends, [not sure about Mazda] removing the entire control arm will alter your front end alignment. Double check.
Good Luck.