Ok, got the left shaft out. Had removed the differential from the truck earlier for L.A.F. bushings. Sequence of events:
1. Remove right shaft assembly, separate the case halves, remove vent assembly.
2. Loosen the cross shaft lock bolt and pull it out till it touches the case.
3. Push the cross shaft in far enough to clear the lock bolt, then put the lock bolt back in.
4. Set up on blocks to support case and provide clearance for left shaft to move out of carrier.
5. Rotate ring gear/carrier assemble so the cross shaft is pointing at the large opening by input shaft, then move cross shaft to ID of case by the input gear, the pinion gear spacer may fall out, just remove with a magnet.
6. This will now provide a clear area for a 1/2 drift, be sure you do not contact the spacer ring.
7. Make like Thor with Mjolnir.
8. I gave it 3 mighty wacks and it moved, then I eased it out the rest of the way after I took it off the blocks.
There was no damage to the shaft face, the "ring" came out in several pieces, looks to be entirely to long for this application. The right side gear spacer was "AWOL" so either this was build on a Monday or Friday or somebody had been in it and lost the spacer. I will have to take jeweler files and clean up the burrs on the left shaft from the extraction but couldn't be more pleased. I cleaned parts all morning dancing a jig!
