When popping ball joints out, another option is to smack whatever the ball joint goes through.
I've had mixed luck with this, but I also use a much smaller hammer, IMO if you can get a puller onto the ball joint, USE IT! however the tie rod ends will not allow you to get a puller on them, either smack what it goes through or back the nut off to the very top of the bolt so its flush and smack it.