[tblake]

Mine have been mushroomed a bit too. I just filed them down and reinstalled. If yours are camber bolts you will need an alignment.

The ball joint sometimes comes out hard. I have a "pickle fork" for them, but I only use that if they are being replaced because it rups boots. I have also pried the lower control arm downwards and hit the knuckle with a hammer where the ball joint goes in. This method usually frees the ball joint, but it is sometimes hard without a helper. Autozone and Advance also have a front end puller kit that you can rent that will have a ball joint puller.

But thats all beside the point. You got your shaft out so your golden.