Well, I managed to change the ball joints (crazy impressed with myself as it’s my first ever mechanic fix and here are the pictures I took to show the part to my mum who has even less a clue than me) but seems like the gears are still heavy although there is an improvement so will update you on progress once I’ve managed to get someone to sit in the car and change the gears!!!
Might take the L and go to a garage for the cables and a sub frame removal is so far away from my comfort zone