When I did mine I knocked out the old joint the way it shows in the picture posted above but I did my best to suport the steering knuckle so it wouldn't get damaged. To press in the new ball joint I took the knuckle and joint to a local indi shop that had the factory tool and they charged around $25 each but after watching them do it I was glad to pay them.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Yeah, I wanted to bring the knuckle to any indy to do removal and and installation, but just about every shop I asked said they'd charge me an hour (80-90) and the one shop that wouldn't charge me the whole seemed so unsure about the process that I don't really feel comfortable going to him (potentially wrong tools, indeterminate charge).

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

I see why you chose not to go that route. I was lucky because there are a number of MB only shops around that had the tool. You might look in the tool rental section on this site or Performance Products also has the tool for rent. I remember watching the guys at the place that I took the parts and the put the press in a vice and then 2 guys pulled on the LONG breaker bar they used to turn the press screw.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Damn, I can see why people think this is the single hardest job to do on the W123. Anyway, I took my sledge (long handle, maybe 10 lbs?), and a 1/2" diameter pipe and started hitting away. No go, torched where the joint meets the knuckle, tried again, no go. I also drilled a .5 cm hole in the bottom, more out of curiosity than anything else. I think I'm going to take paul up on his offer.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition