rear axle angst...

Hello, I'm new to this forum ,it seems to offer plenty of useful information so hopefully I could get some as well.
I have an '88 Chev C2500 3/4 ton(6lug) with the semi-floating rear end.My trouble is that my bearings are shot and I can't get the axles removed.
I went thru the following steps;
Raised the rear,removed the wheels and drums.
Drained the differential.
Removed the cover.
Removed the Lockscrew to the pinion shaft.
.....this is where my frustration begins.........
the shaft will not come out so that I can get the C-locks off the axles in order to pull them out....
I have used a hammer and an extension to try to push it out with no luck, I have tried to turn the shaft without anything good happening I even went to the library(don't laugh) and borrowed a Chiltons manual and I have done the steps correctly according to them, Chilton shows a picture of the shaft being slid out using fingers :banghead: ....... .....What am I doing wrong , or is there a trick? I'm not a mechanical moron , I just have a short fuse when things aren't supposed to be THIS difficult, and my fenders are taking the punishment, so any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Scot

Was the pinion bolt by any chance sheared off? I have seen the lock bolts shear off and leave part of the pin holding the pinion tight.

No, it wasn't broken(sheared), I am able to move the pinion shaft maybe 1/2 inch in either direction but that is all...........

can you turn the cross-pin with your fingers both ways? It really should just slide out... You are trying to take it out towards the back of the diff, and not sliding it in and hitting the pinion or anything crazy... I've had really really bad luck with those pins breaking off, are you 100% sure you got the whole thing?
Also, try pulling the axle shafts out to make sure they are definitely not touching the crosspin

I could turn(spin) the pinion shaft with my fingers and slide it up or down maybe a half inch, but it wouldn't come out........... finally took a sawzaw to it...........seems it was bent ever so slightly just enough to not allow it to slide out........thanks for the help......

well, sounds ilke you got it out...i have seen them so badly gauled and marred, and the warped on top of that that the spider case had to be cut. Glad you didn't have to go that route