strut tower replacement on 94 3.1 coupe

[Andy943100]

By some act of God about ten minuets before I got on one of Chicago's busiest interstates, while still in a neighborhood, the top bolt of the bracket that holds on the brake caliper to the lower part of the strut tower popped off. With the bottom still bolted, the caliper (bracket and all) wedged itself between the inside of the wheel and the bottom of the strut tower. This caused the wheel to immediatly lock up and me to come the a skidding smoking halt in the middle of the road.

After a long tow and some looking, this little malfunction bent the bottom of the strut tower (where the bracket and caliper is supposed to hook to), so I think I need to change the whole thing. The shop wants way too much to do it, especially for this car. What scares me about doing it myself is what appears to be attached to this thing is the hub assembly, the ball joint, and the sway bar.

What am I getting myself into? Are special tools needed swap these?(ie: pressing the ball joint in and out)

Also, I am going to be looking to the junk yards for the replacement part.
Is this something I can change just one side as needed? Can I go used? Is this the setup where the actual shock absorber is a cartridge inside the strut?

Sorry about the length of this and all the questions. It is just that I will be off all next week, and this car has got to be fixed in that time. I am not to savvy with suspension either.

I appreciate any information
Andy