If the 32mm axle nut is stuck, you can pop the center cap out of the wheel, put the wheel back on, drop the wheel on the ground, then impact it or jump on a breaker bar.
To pop the lower ball joint w/out damaging the threads, get a pry bar / crow bar - you'll need to find one just the right size and a slight taper works the best - wedge it in that slight overlap surrounding the ball joint that hovers just over the LCA, and hammer it in. You'll feel it pop and then you can lift the knuckle out. You can also try jacking up the knuckle and putting the crow bar in the opened gap, then quickly releasing the jack. When the knuckle sinks back down, the gap shrinks but with the crow bar in there it pops the ball joint.
I can't remember whether it's better to have the lower shock fork connected or disconnected. I have to see it. But you can decide whether it's better to have the spring pushing on the LCA or not.