if the axle is not hyperextended it will go back together, check the cv joint is seated corretly. try lossening the pinch bolt on the strut and muve the knuckle all the way up on the strut, this should yeild the extra clearence you need to do the ball joint back together.
this is what I have done with front suspention installs and it has worked great
you do also have to get the arm as far down as possible
you can try compressing the spring but good luck getting a spring compressor up in the strut tower
