The "special tool" is nothing more than a threaded rod screwed into the center bolt hole and used as a leverage bar to help guide the axle back in. It's really not needed. Just give the face a good smack with a 3 pound hammer and the axle should pop out enough to grab it and pull it out...it is a floating axle and is only held in place via the flange bolts.
If you have an Eaton rear (electric shift) then there will be cone wedges under the flange nuts. These can sometimes be a pain to get free from the stud. In the past I've had to double jamb nut the stud and remove the stud with the cone still attached, then pull the axle.
Hope this helps,
Mike B
