Last weekend a friend and I replaced both axles in my 1995 Accord. The
passenger side (smaller) axle came right out with no hassle. The
drivers side, however, was so rusted into the hub that we had to take
the whole hub/axle assembly off the car so that we could better pound
it with a big 3lb hammer and an air chisel. After a LOT of pounding it
finally came out. Is this something that happens frequently with older
cars? If so, is there a better way to get those things out?
Penetrating oil didn't seem to help much. Even the air chisel didn't
do anything until after the big hammer got the thing loose.

Luckily after we got the old axle out the hub was still in good shape
and the new axle went right in with no problems. What a pain! This is
just another case of the shop manual being soo far off of reality (The
book says to remove the axle using a rubber mallet--no way!!).