I feel like I am making good headway and getting things straight in my head. I damn near have all the steps, parts and tools memorized at this point.

Another question (1):
I think for sure I am going to need to clean out the CV Joint. I do not know when my boot ripped, but I suspect it was months ago. I do not drive the car much, but i am sure inside it is dirty.

So, if I hammer the out CV joint off while the axle half shaft is still connected to the transmission, is it going to rip my inner boot off. From what I have read (about the alternate approach to changing the boots from the transmission side) it seems like the axle half shaft is just connected to the transmission with the inner boot...

I am concerned if I am hammering hard, the whole half shaft will come flying out.

Another question (2):

Has anyone had good experience seperating the ball joint that is in the middle of the steering knuckle. I think the tie rod is in the back, the tension strut is in the front, but there is one joint that is in the center. I think it is hard to access and sometimes people disconnect via the subframe side, which i would rather not do (because I read about having to load the car with weight to set the ride height before tightening that nut and bolt back together on the frame side). I would much rather seperate the ball joints from the steering knuckle and then pull it off...

thx, Marc