Sounds brutal but normally I'd knock the CV joint sideways with a good sized
ball been hammer, to try to get it to tilt and jump out of the flange.

I don't like the idea of putting a lot of force sideways on the flange
though - kinda rough on the splines.

as for heat, like with a torch ....if you needed to replace the output
flange seal that's not that big a deal.

will the axle and inner ball cage tilt enough for the balls to fall out ?
if it'll come part that way, you might be able to remove the flange and
outside of the cv joint togeter as one piece, then work on them off the van.

good luck !~
scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Barb Ourada" <barbron@EXCEL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 10:17 AM
Subject: Half shaft removal

> Have an 85, 1.9 water, and due to growling in drivers side rear wheel, am
> taking out half shaft. Got all the bolts out, and the cv joint separated
> from the wheel. Am stuck on getting the inner cv joint removed from the
> drive flange of the transmission. It is rusted really tight. Have used
> lots
> of penetrating oil, and pounded around on it, and made no progress. Have
> not
> tried heat (concerned about seals). Looking for suggestions or hints.
> Trying
> not to destroy the cv joint because the problem may well be the wheel
> bearings; then I would repack the cv joint.    Thanks for any info
>
> RonO