UCA BUSHING REMOVAL/BALL JOINT BOOT QUESTION

I got a bearing press thinking I'd press my UCA bushings out with them, rethinking that now as pressing them from inside to out the A arm gets in the way (other side). I don't see how any jig/rig can avoid this, so I tried using my 5 1/2 Craftsman bench vise and sockets. With a 4 foot pipe and quite a bit of pressure I moved the bushing, but got nervous about my socket selection as I used an All trade 11/16's cheapo for the inside and a good 1 1/4 on the outside.
Any comments on using sockets or how to use a straight down press to do this work? Also, I saw the threaded pipe tool, I may go this route, looks safer than the vise with sockets.
I also got nowhere on my ball joint removal as don't have a 3/4 inch breaker bar BUT a buddy is loaning me his. Saw today that I trashed the boot on the upper ball joint with the pickle fork, don't know if just the boot can be purchased? A learning curve here for me, I appreciate all of the comments so far in related posts.