how do you remove ball joints? what tool?

on the knuckle assembly: part #4 and below. easy/hard

http://www.hondaautomotivepart...UCKLE

 

take a hammer and hit the lca with a the hammer it should knock the balljoint loose, then air hammer the ball joint out

 

there is a special tool for it, but i would not recommend using it as there are other, rubber-boot-friendlier methods that can be done with a simple tool out of your toolbox.
I think someone posted a nifty "ratchet handle + leverage" method a while back, maybe someone with a better memory than I can post it up.