getting front springs out?

[Benrs86]

so today in school i was staring out the window and decided my 69 definately sits to high in the front, so when i got home from school, i decided today was the perfect day to tear it apart (it was rainy out) so i take off the wheel, and the nut on the lower ball joint, (with a jack under it ready for it to come out) HA that thing is stuck in there. i pried, i hammered, i got a 6 foot long by 1" steel shaft, and pried, but that thing wont come out. how do i get the spring outta there? should i take off the top ball joint instead? any help is apreciatted. Thanks, Ben