Project 59 - Ball Joint Replacement

[Manolito]

'97 328 (actually, I have two of them)

I bought a copy of 101 projects the moment they went on sale. Great book, compliments my Bentley's, but having trouble with a ball joint replacement.

Searched this forum - none of the posts on this topic address my problems, so I must be missing something obvious (would not be the first time).

1) Outer ball joint separates from hub, no problem. The problem is: How does the "retaining clip" on the ball joint work? Both manuals note its existence and show me a picture of it, but neither manual hints at how to get it off, or whether I need to get it off to press out the ball joint.

2) I have a press in the shop and would like to remove the control arm to facilitate working with the outer ball joint and the control arm bushing. How to separate the inner ball joint from the crossmember? Nut is off. Pounding on the end of the bolt with a long pointed bar and a 2 lb hammer. It does not budge. If I use a pickle fork on it from beneath, that will abuse the joint and trash the rubber boot. Since the inner ball joint is not servicable, using a pickle fork on the inner ball joint means throwing away the control arm and getting a new one, right? Is it possible to remove the control arm without destroying the inner ball joint?

PS question - I understand why it is better, though not critical, to have the control arm bushing 'glued' to the control arm. However, if you remove the control arm, rather than racing against time to get it on the car and put weight on it so the glue will dry a the ride height angle, would it not be better to make careful note of the position and angle of the old bushing, and put the new one on to the exact same depth and angle? Then let it dry overnight, and put it together slowly and carefully?

Thanks!