Stuck on gear install (help needed)

I've been laying in the garage working on my first mod -- replacing my 2.73's with 4.10's.

This has been my bible:
http://www.superstallions.com/tech/drive/gears/gears.html

I'm stuck on #15 though: (removing the pinion gear)

With a rubber mallet or brass punch, hammer the pinion gear. It will need to go in about ½” to ¾” to get past the pinion flange. The flange will fall off and a few more whacks should free up the pinion. Remove it from the housing and set aside.

Click to expand...

I assume that means to hit the side of the pinion gear towards the front of the car (that the nut goes on) and drive it back.

It looks like the flange is just held on by friction. I'm hammering, prying, soaking in oil, and doing everything else I can think of, but it's not coming off.

Do I have the right idea? Is there some trick? All I can think is to go buy a 6 foot breaker bar or get the sledge hammer out.

Thanks for any help!

...bump...

Thanks guys! I went ape with the sledge hammer and it eventually popped out.

Now I'm off to AutoZone to try to rent a bearing puller.

The wife keeps telling me I should have just hired this done. My response is that I'll do that once I get it all back together and it whines and squeaks like crazy