Replacing my pilot bearing in my 87 n/a. got the exhaust, starter, and speedo cable off. I unbolted the 4 bolts on the back of the driveshaft and it is stuck. I just installed it about a week ago and it went on fine, and now that I am trying to fix what should have been done a long time ago, it refuses to come off. Any suggestions? I tried prying it off but there's really no place to pry it from that I can tell, and the rear flange is completely butted against where it bolts up to, so as of now I am lost.

 

If you get real stuck you could always put the nuts on loosely and hit the Nut on the bolts to Jar them loose on the Diff Flange.Anywhere around the 8 oclock to 4 oclock regioon nis good for them to cleanly come out.
They are not Splined typed bolts.they have a Smooth surface inside where the bolt sits in,so you won;t wreck anything on the Bolt,Just be careful that you do not flatten the Bolt around where the Nut comes Off as may will end up cutting the bolt to get it off.
The bolts are 5 bucks each at Mazda.
The diff has to be in a certain position for the bolts to cleanly exit from the Diff Flange holes at the rear of the Diff flange.( you will see that when you look at it.)
You could always try to Hit the Driveshaft at the Flange and the Rear u joint to shake it up a bit.
IF you can get a small space between the diff and the rear Shaft flange of the driveshaft,you can then use a flat bar or big screwdriver and wedge it in between the 2 flanges and you should be able to work it off the bolts that way.
The Driveshaft should in turn slide into the tail stock of the trans enough so that it will clear the bolts of the diff and you can drop the Driveshaft from the car.

 

I already have the bolts out, its basically just sitting up there refusing to come out. I can't move the end that hooks into the transmission, it won't go any further up on the tail stock.

 

Smack it with a plastic hammer.

 

Did that too. Still nothing. How hard would it be to say, unbolt my rear crossmember mount and push the differential back in hopes that it'll loosen up?

 

+1

 

I had the same issue in my FB I used the god old lay on the ground and kick it then run around holding you bleeding leg that got cut on the heat shield when it broke free method.

 

I had to smack mine with a rubber mallet (or plastic hammer) for a good 5 minutes before the shaft starts "moving"

then I just smack it another 10-20 seconds the whole thing comes off.