Replacing Suspension Parts for a Novice with the spanners ?

I have had the cabrio jacked up and put on to jack stands and whipped off the front wheels to inspect my suspension as the knocking on both sides is very bad.

After prodding and pobing the bushes etc etc, I have come to the conclusion the following is goosed.

1. Track rod end boots are split and need to be replaced. ( Look original, are these easy to change ? )
2. Both upper strut bushes that bolt to the inner wings are cracked and need to be replaced. ( Are these easy to change and/or would i need to compress the springs ? )
3. Both lower wishbone ball joints have too much play as do the front and rear bushes on each wishbone. ( Easy to change. I note that the front bush on the near side, that the bolt would not come out, unless I raise the Auto box, is this correct ? )
4. The wishbone sheet steel, if that's what it is is heavily corroded. Thinking I will renew these with the bushes arlready fitted
5. Springs look OK.
6. Both front shock absorbers have both been changed at some point, as both I think are insert shocks, 1 is a Sachs and the the other is a QH one. ( How do you fit insert shocks, do they screw into the vertical strut or just slide in ? )
7. Both inner and outer ARB bushes are badly cracked. ( Assume the bar is sprung, is it best they are done while on jacks of 1 at a time ? )

1. track rod ends can be a pain, bit of heat will get them moving. you need a spliter to get the taper out of the hub, around £10 from halfords

2. top mounts, then are relativly simple to do just a case of unbolt and bolt new ones on. Febi are said to be the best. You will need spring compressors to do this safely. Febi topmount kit is £30 of ebay by a guy call tierod

3. and 4. you can buy complet wishbones with all the bushes already on them, again of ebay for £30 a side

6. shock inserts, im not sure as i've never done them, but again better doing with the top mounts to save doing the job twice

7. these bushes just slid on the arb with a bit of force, again availble of ebay

if you look in the how to section then there is a guide on renewing your front end

hth

oh forgot to mention that once you've done all this you will need you tracking and camber done