Yeah, it came out today...unfortunately I horked the cage up good with the crow's foot trying to grab to something, so that will require new bearings. There's needle/roller bearings in there,.AFAICT that flange probably is not intended to come off and I don't see how you would get the plates off without removing the flange. Looks as if it was peened from the inside so that the plate won't slide off. However the flange has a seam to the outside of that peen.
Next plan of attack is to remove the brake parts from the plates and leave the plates attached...
I think the shoes and drums are ok, but would like to replace the springs, cylinders, piston seals, rubber end caps, rubber end seals, et all...Yes, the bearing and seal should both tap in with a hammer and/or bearing driver. I have set of bearing drivers, which I used recently on the T5.
Brought the carrier in and put it on the workbench to replace the ring gear, the pinion is in the front cover of the diff.
