Did a search and did not find anything on this so.

car is a 2002 E320 4matic wagon, failed inspection and when I looked it lookes to me like the failure was due to the left tie rod end (play/clunk in a horizontal push pull of a jacked up wheel grab at 9 and 3, no play in verticle 12 and 6). That looks easy, but my inspection revealed a split front CV boot on the same side (left driver).

Pull out the Star Clasic DVD I got when we got the car a few years ago and find it does not work on windows 7 64 bit
In looking it does appear I need to pull apart a fair amount of the front suspension. It does NOT look like I need a spring compressor - the directions indicate you unbolt the lower shock mount from the lower wishbone and the shock will hold the spring together?

Is this correct or do I need to get the side spring compressors to do this job?
Any other things to look out for in removing and replacing these axles (looks like they just come out by prying or a wack using a suitable drift? The price for a remanufactured (I assume its reman) axle looks reasonable at about $135.

Any other parts that are known to get mangled during the repair that I should have on hand before starting?

Thanks
Paul