driver's side axle seal removal & GC+AGX question

[Steve Barber]

Okay... what's the trick?  That seal is in there tight. I've
destroyed the sealing edge on the old one trying to pull it
out so I've got to finish the job.  I tried carefully pushing
a large flatblade screwdriver underneath it and prying against
the tranny case.. didn't budge.  Vice grips on the only thing
they could grab (the inner edge of the seal) just tore a
chunk out of it.  Help!

On a less urgent note, when installing GCs on AGX struts, I
noticed the NPM writeup said to grind down the top part of the
strut body..  the GC instructions imply that you can knock that
part off with a hammer, install the sleeves, and then reinstall.
Is it that easy?  It almost looks welded on there, or I'd try it.

Thanks,
Steve