CV axle won't come out...HELP

[CSL]

While I was finishing up my new Tundra brakes, I thought I would just "pop" in my recently refirbed Toyota CV axle. I put in an aftermarket one after the boot tore on my stock axle. The aftermarket one locks up at full droop...it did when I installed in at the start of winter and it still does now. Here are two old threads where my frustrating CV axle story began:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/55369-do-cvs-have-break.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/55368-not-all-cv-axles-same.html

So, after hours this weekend, and more last night...I CAN'T GET THE CV AXLE TO POP OUT!

I have tried multiple pry bars with multiply people prying and it wont come out. It still wiggles a litte bit back and forth, so it doesn't feel jammed in. Now to top it off, one of my buddies in the neighborhood tried to help me pry it out, and before I noticed, he was pulling on the axle joints. Now it feels like the inner joint on the axle is separated, so I can't even give up and put the rig back together.

I have a nice refirbed axle ready to go in, but can't get the old one out. :redbrick:

Any advice?
Any tricks?

Please help!

 

[Deep_palancar]

It takes a good solid whack to get it to release. I've never had one release by prying alone. Get as straight on to the back (inside) of the tulip as you can with hefty rod or hook it with a crow bar, then while pulling/pushing out without a lot of force, smack the bar a solid blow with heavy hammer. A 16oz hammer probably won't do it - 2 1/2 to 3 lbs is about right. If necessary, roll the shaft around to another lug to get the open portion of the inner split ring in a different location.