The optimum "other purposes" tool I've found for this job is a pair of big c-clamp vice grip pliers. There are two kinds - one has swivelling jaw faces, and one has rounded solid ends. Both will work, solids are a little better, for this at least.

When I use a pickle fork, I don't drive it in tight, just enough to put on some tension without tearing the boot. Usually won't work on a pitmann arm steering box end, for which I have a pitmann arm tool, which is a good non-boot tearing alternative to a pickle fork for idler arm/tie rod tapered pin and eye joints. The backup sledge is essential, and should be as heavy as practicable, and the rap should be very sharp... With some tension on the tapered pin, I rarely have to drive the threaded end (you should only hit the old castle nut unscrewed beyond the pin threads) by hammer this way. PB-Blaster is alway nice......