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Is there anyway to fix a cracked joint on a GorillaPod?

I have an original GorillaPod (which I've been using religiously since I got it) that somehow suffered a crack in one of the joints this past weekend.

Counting down from the camera mount it is the second socket (part with the gray stripe around it) that has the crack and therefore it no longer holds tight to the ball underneath causing my camera to flop around on the mount.

I was wondering if there is a way to remove this cracked socket and just use the GorillaPod without it by positioning the camera mount directly on top of the legs.

I'm afraid to pull out the cracked socket for fear of breaking the one above it (the one on the camera mount).

Anyone ever try 'GorillaPod surgery' before, or is my old friend a lose cause?

thanks