Yeah, the flange on the front diff that need not ever come out (unless seal goes).
From other posts I've since read it looks like it's just a round circlip.

My last post wasn't clear, it should have read:
A fellow today told me it the trans flange was held onto a fixed thru-diff shaft by a flat circlip making pulling it out impossible without first unloading the spring pressure and removing the circlip. He said the diff flange cannot come out without removing the circlip.

He was a transmission guy and got kinda pissy because he thought he knew and thought I was talking crap. Some folks will simply not admit they are wrong even when others present evidence. You don't want them working on your car.