Anyone dealt with a Dana 44?

[slickstysix]

trying to replace the pinion seal on my Dana 44 rear axle. I got the pinion flange off and under that is a deflector (called in the Ford manual) that covers the seal. The manual doesn't give any hints on how to remove the deflector to get to the seal. It's pressed into the housing diameter and the only way to get at it is about 1/4" clearance around the pinion shaft.
Anyone dealt with this before?

[ICEMAN6166]

deflector is supposed to come off with the flange as its pressed onto it.
yours must have come loose and got stuck over the end of the housing

pic of 1/2 ton d60
all danas are the same 44,60,70 when it comes to the flange and seal

[slickstysix]

Ice - mine looks different than your 60. My deflector is pressed into the housing itself and has a raised ridge that indexes into a groove on the back of the flange.
I'll check some parts stores today to see if theres a tool for this kinda thing.
thanx.

[robert porterfield]

a pic of issue may help....