I found that removing the lower ball joint was very easy, by placing a socket on it, and hitting it with a light sledge to knock it loose.

That being said, make sure you have access to the special press to reinstall the ball joint, before you take it apart!

I had to check around for a week, after the tools I had access to came up lacking in ability or fit.
The dealers around here don't work on the older models, and didn't even have the press any more. I finally found ONE independent shop that still had the tool, but it's easier to do the research before your car is no longer mobile!

__________________
-Josh
Testing the cheap Mercedes axiom, one bolt at a time...