That's your solution. Find a drift that fits the hole well and has a flat end face.

Have a second person hold the drift perfectly horizontal against the face of the axle.

Hit it reasonably firmly with a sledge (don't need to kill it). The mass of the sledge impacting the drift will easily get it to break free of the splines.

You've already broken the bond from the rust when you heated it.


The axle has freedom in the longitudinal direction...........therefore you cannot damage anything in the joint or the diff.


Good luck.