secure the housing in position with the 3rd member point straight up at the sky. Have 2 helpers wedge 2 thick screwdrivers in & opposite each other & tell em to be carefull & not gouge the gasket area. You pull the pig straight up as they carefully pry it up evenly till it's loose. EDIT measure how far in the axle seals are on the housing ends & if the backing plates are off & you're down to a bare housing use an axle to pry the seals out. That thin washer in the pic was installed on the assy line to guarantee the axles stayed in place till the next guy on down the line buzzed on the 5 nuts. Likely it has never been apart as most people toss em when they take it apart for the first time but it could have been reintstalled. MORE EDIT This was an A body 8&3/4 behind a /6