cv joint

I'm thinking I'm doing something wrong in my install of a CV joint on the passenger side of a 2003 Protege5. Basically I cant get the CV joint to compress the snap ring on the spline of the intermediate shaft. The snap ring is the old snap ring. I've tried using a hammer and ended up damaging...

1999 Protege LX 1.6 - Boot is torn - need to remove hub and CV in order to replace boot. I did not see how to remove shaft from hub. Can someone provide this information..... please? Jeff