So in the middle of my diff drop / 4.77 swap, I realized that my steering center link must've been welded into place by a Vehicross gremlin. So I used the puller that Tom provided with the drop brackets, and it didn't budge and it tore open both boots, I bought a ball joint separator and that did nothing, I even used a jack to put a slight amount of the weight of the VX on the center link and used my 5lb hammer, but nothing would budge it. I ended up buying a 2 pronged 5 ton puller and finally got it on there in the right position that using enough torque got the thing to break loose, but here is my question:

Once removed:
-both my boots on the ball joints on the center link are torn open
-driver side ball joint on center link is very easy to move
-passenger side ball joint on center link is impossible to move and rusted on inside

So should I:
-put it back on the way it is, both torn boots, one loose side, one solid side
-buy a new center link with new ball joints on it ($202.43) from Merlin
-find a used alternative

?????

What do you all think?