Chuck,

The advice from these guys is spot on.

Here is what I have learned doing this same project:

You will need a deep socket and breaker bar to get axle nut off. Also make sure that the cv axle you purchased has the same size axle nut as the original or else you will be buying another sized deep socket. This is what happened on my aftermarket one.

I was able to separate the ball join from the strut housing by putting a small breaker bar in between the ball joint and strut housing and using equal pressure on both sides of the bar push down hard and steady on the ball joint. Loosen the nuts and bolts that hold the control arm bushing to the subframe first.

There is a clamp that holds the cv axle in place before it goes into the tranny. You will see it. A couple of bolts on the clamp and then the fun part. Pull hard on the axle and it "should" just pop out. You will loose a tiny bit of tranny fluid. Make double and triple sure that the axle is NOT leaking up installing a new one. This frustrated me. I went down to O'reillys to get a new seal that fit perfectly with no more leaks. Hopefully you will not have this problem.

Put back together. Drive. Smile. Enjoy the job-well-done and huge-money-saved syndrome.

You can do this. Post again if you get stuck.