mmcpeck, What did you end up doing? I am right at that point now. I got the nut off the upper with a box wrench, but there is no room to get a ball joint press tool on it or even space to swing a hammer! Looks like unless I take out the big bolt that holds the steering knuckle on, that bracket is in the way. Was trying not to fight with the tie rod end (don't want to ruin the boot and have to replace) or undo the axle to do this job. I thought I read it was possible to do both uppers and lowers without pulling everything apart?
Also no straight shot to the upper control arm with a jack (even a small bottle jack w/pipe) to push it up to make space...
Do you know what keeps the lower control arm from going down more than it does? I have the shock off and the stabilizer bar endpins all loosed.
Any HELP guys?