ball joints 01 mountaineer

We recently had a ice storm and my girlfriend hit a patch of ice and slid straight into a curb at about 25 miles an hour (she had to drive my vehicle because "it's safer" LOL) . Of course I took it to the alignment shop and they told me I need new upper and lower balljoints and a new rack & pinion. They quoted me $1700 to fix it which I found all the parts for under $400 to fix it myself. I already know and was told by the shop that you have to replace the upper control arm and ball joint as a unit not individually. But they said that the lower balljoints can be replaced by themselves but my Haynes manual says that you have to replace the whole control arm. Does any one know for sure? It's an 01 with the 5.0L and is an AWD automatic. Thanks in advance for any info. :confused:

The lower ball joint is normal balljoint. Remove the snap ring and smack it with a hammer and out it comes!

The lower ball joint is normal balljoint. Remove the snap ring and smack it with a hammer and out it comes!

How do I put the new one in? without taking the control arm off