Hi Rickg:
I just did the lower ball joint on my car. It was a pain getting the knucle out. The problem was I could not detach the joint between the lower control arm and the lower ball joint. This is the joint by which the lower control arm is attached to the knuckle.
It took me 6 hrs on one side and 20 minutes on the other. LOL
The key is a good pickle fork type ball joint separator and a 2-3 pound hammer. Strength is the key. Dont be scared banging it hard. a few good blows will separate it clean.
The second hard part is pressing in the new ball joints. I went to a shop for that and he messed it up. He used a Pneumatic hammer and a large socket to press in the ball joint. One came out good and the other one did not go all the way in.
He messed up the collar of the new ball joint. It looks ugly.
Key here is nothing but the MB special tool that you have seen on this forum. Dont waste your time and money on anything else if you want a clean job.

Rest all was a piece of cake.

MVK

__________________
One penny saved is three penny earned.

1985 300D Turbo 179,000miles