Hard to tell from the photos, but is the outside part of the splines on the part on the shaft the same size as the inside splines on the hub? Maybe they have to line up to get that piece out. In other words, would pulling piece out lock the axle to the hub? Not sure how you'd get it pulled out if that was the case however as there doesn't appear to be anything to grab on to it.
Are you sure there's no snap ring holding that larger splined piece to the hub proper?
Last edited by klhansen; 01/30/2018 3:05 AM.