On my 06 Evo 9 MR i'm trying to install my new ACT clutch. I have everything taken apart up to the front axles. They are giving me one heck of a time. I have the outer splines out the front hubs and the outside of the axle free, but I cannot get the axle out from the transmission. No matter how much prying, they will not even budge. It is like they are almost locked in there. I have used a multitude of pry bars and I'm not a lightweight, but neither side will budge. The car is in neutral with the E-brake off, but no luck

Is there something that I'm missing here? I have followed the steps of numerous online guides such as "EVO Motorsports" and "Joe's EVO8's" guide on the forum, but I'm stuck. Can anyone tell me what might be the problem?

 

Had the same problem... had to use a slide hammer and they came right out.

 

I don't understand how you are going to get a slide hammer on it without destroying the cv joints.

A jolt or shock in prying will work 10X better than a lot of steady pressure. Try putting the pry bar on it and then hit the pry bar with a hammer (or mini sledge). For the passenger side use the pry bar and the head of a hammer, but make sure you flip the pry bar like the pictures in the service manual.

If you dropped the steering rack you don't even need to remove the passenger side. I didn't.