Changing Watts Link Assembly ball joints on PT Cruiser?

Can the ball joints be removed from the connecting rods of the Watts Link assembly connected to the the rear axle of a 2001 PT Cruiser. The ball joints are threaded into the rods but it looks like there are crimp marks around the rods were the threads are. Does this mean the ball joints and rods cannot be seperated and must be purchased as a unit or can I just purchase the ball joints?|||the tie rod ends are permanently attached to the rods. normally that watts link itself usually is what makes the clunk.|||It can be done.....but....wayy cheaper and easier to replace them as a unit.