Rear hub removal . . . won't budge

Posting this for a buddy of mine I'm trying to help;
Vehicle in question is an 01 Outback. We are trying to remove the rear driver's side hub, and have yet to have any luck.

After checking both the Haynes and Chilton manuals as well as the Subaru service manual, it looks like the rear wheel hub assembly for my 01 Outback should slide out of the casting after removing the 4 bolts holding it in and the axle nut holding the CV shaft in place; however, neither the spindle nor the hub itself will come off. We've tried just pulling, a slide hammer, using heat, and even so far as a 3 tooth gear puller with no movement in the assembly.

Any ideas? Perhaps I missed something? Looking at the exploded diagrams, I don't think I have, but it's possible. Although not mentioned, are these press fit in the rear despite being a fully assembled replacement part?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Posting for a buddy yet referring to 'my' car? :lol:

Can you post a scan of the manual page showing the assembly breakout - I want to see something. :)

Sorry for the delay getting back. . . frustration had us marinating the rear assembly in penetrating oil to see if it made a difference. . . :P

Anyways, here's a scan of the Subaru service manual; evidently DOJ refers to the Double Offset style CV joint. . .
http://myweb.cableone.net/wkeck/scan.gif

The theory so far (before we ran out of weekend) is that after 80k, it just likes being there farrr too much. Think that he may have to take the entire knuckle out and have someone press the old one out? Havent had this much *fun* since I threaded a piece of my Jeep's transfer case in backwards. :screwy:

Any help is appreciated.. . . .