snap ring pliers and a brass hammer would work. i got mine off by leaving the nut still on the ball joint and giving it a little encouragement with a brass hammer. then remove the nut .
I would mark the rod that your removing or count turns to remove and then put it back on by turning it the same amount of threads. this keeps every thing the way it was .
henro maybe pickle forks would have worked?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif