98Legacy_Outback

Hi, I was trying to replace inner CV boot of drive axle and could not remove the outer joint from knuckle after disconnecting the inner one from transmission... Any advice/ anyone had the same problem? Rust? I had ALL bolts removed. Any idea or hint? Did I totally miss something? I ended up unbolting the knuckle from strut and removing the whole assembly of left drive axle and knuckle to be able to repair the inner CV boot of that axle. What I thought would be a half day job was 2 day's job with some other boot repairs- on steering on both sides. Car is 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5 L ; has 105 000 miles and EVERYTHING down under is original, rusty and impossible to loosen. Rotors, all the boots all screws never removed. I snapped the ABS bolt which I had to drill out and romove later. All was so rusty, all bolts; I was affraid I could brake more bolts- luckily the ABS sensor was only one. Of course I used penetrator for that. Could the rust be the problem for the outer CV joint cup / knuckle also? (I had the old axle nut attached to the axle bolt and pounding it with hammer after removing the inner axle from trany- but nothing helped.) Many thanks for any help.... Job is done now.. .but I just want to know as many articles mention that the outside cup should just slide out after removing the inner end from the transmission :-)) Thanks Pete