to get the spring pin out of my shift linkage, i used a 1/4 inch non tapered drift.
for the axles, break the hub nut loose, remove the damper fork, then remove the nut from the lower ball joint. next using a ball joint seperator or something of similar design, split the ball joint from the spindle. now your hub should be free to rotate. now pull the hub forward and rotate toward the back of the car while holding the axle in place, then pull the axle out of the transmission. it helps to have a friend for this process because manuvering around all that stuff can be akward.