Suspension problem
1999 Volkswagen Eurovan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 200,00 miles
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I was attempting to replace the right driveaxel on my 1999 Eurovan last weekend because the inboard CV joint is making noise. I got as far as disconnecting the lower stabilizer from the torsion bar and shock, and planned to remove the ball joints on the lower stabilizer and steering linkage so I could pivot the wheel assembly around the upper stabilizer and pull out the driveaxel. This is where I got stuck - I got the nut off the ball joint on the lower stabilizer, but couldn't remove the ball joint with a bearing puller, after cranking on it pretty hard.

Something that confused me about this ball joint is that the threaded bolt has a place to put a hex key in the end that the nut goes on, but I didn't need this to get the nut off. What is this hex for? Similarly for the ball joint on the steering linkage, which I didn't try to remove yet.

My questions are these:

1. Do I just need a bigger press to remove the ball joint, or is there some other way to do it?

2. Do I need to replace the ball joint when I reassemble, or can I use the same one?

3. Instead of removing the ball joint, would it work to just disconnect the lower stabilizer from the car by removing the two large bolts at it's base?

Thanks!

- Blake