Suspension

To get the front ball joints apart without using a pickle fork or damaging the ball joint:

1. Take off the front wheel, caliper and rotor (and backing plate if you want more room).
2. Jack up underneath the control arm to relieve the pressure off the ball joint.
3. Undo the top nut off the sway bar rod.
4. Undo the ball joint nut until it is flush with the end of the ball joint.
5. Let the jack down until it is 3/4 of an inch below the control arm.
6. With a large steel hammer, hit the side of the spindle (pretty hard) right near the ball joint. Do not hit downwards, hit parallel to the ground.
7. It may take a couple good hits but this almost always works and you never have to touch the ball joint.
8. After the ball joint drops, jack up the control arm again and remove the retaining nut the rest of the way.
9. Done, just watch out for the spring.

Brakes

To disconnect any brake lines without losing all the fluid in the reservoir:

1. Take the lid off your brake fluid reservoir.
2. Place a piece of saran wrap (about 6" square) over the top opening of the reservoir. Make sure it is taught over the opening and fold the edges downward.
3. Place 2 or 3 elastic bands around the saran wrap just below the threads for the reservoir lid. Double or triple them up so they are as tight as you can get them.
4. OPTIONAL - put lid back on reservoir over the saran wrap, making sure not to poke any wholes in it,
5. DONE! As long as you did it well enough that there are no air leaks, very little or no brake fluid will leak out of the reservoir side of the brake lines you are taking apart. This is very handy when replacing the rear end in your mustang, to avoid laying in pools of brake fluid while working under the car.