More Novice Help Please, Suspension, CV Joint and Front Suspension Disassembly Options

[Highland]

More amateur help please, this time with CV joint and front suspension:

1) I've only taken apart one axle, but I found some pitting on one of the outside bearing. Pictured is the worse example:



Can I address this by swapping the transmission end for the wheel end? I notice they ride in slightly different locations.

2) Having much trouble taking apart the front suspension.

a) Can I just use a fork to pry this off or do I need a puller/pusher device? I have neither so trying to avoid buying both. Soaking in PB Blaster now. Boot is already torn so a fork would do no damage, just looking for the easiest way.



b) According to the Haines Manual the bolt/pin shown is suppose to come out to release the ball joint (held in by a semi-circle feature?). Mine looks like it is permanently attached to the strut. How do I get it out?



3) When removing the control arms do the adjusters need to be wound loose? Can the cross support bar be left in place?

[Highland]

More heat and I got the ball joint pins out. Kind of a strange non-symmetrical taper. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Thanks for everyone's support; kept me hammering and heating away.

So a couple more questions:

1) I believe someone mentioned the torsion bar would likely be corroded in the cap(rear?). So is the recommended method to unbolt the front of the A-arm then more heat and hammering? Where is the best place to hammer on the A-arm so I won't break anything?

I haven't tried to remove the A-arm yet for lack of a long enough allen to get inside the front cover.

2) Do torsion bars "sag" like coil springs? I have 100 lb springs and Bilsteins in the rear and plan on using Bilstein inserts in the front. Is it recommended to replace the torsion bars too (even if there's no visible damage)?