I would try putting some heat on the housing at the axle bearing end while someone else pulls on it, maybe jerk on it with a chain attached to one stud with a nut, or use a loop in the chain attached to two lug studs with nuts and jerk on it several times
I've used that method more than once with only the chain, on your deal with rust in the housing bore I would try and use the heat to loosen the rust and then jerk away