Speedy sleeves, by lots, for a quick fix.
Speedy Sleeves are done cold, like Edz described, or pressed on if you have the right gear.
Some of those stub-axles have a ring that's fitted as the seal seat, right up close to the backing plate.
To get a new one on, you heat it so it grows, put it in place and let it cool down to fit.
Getting the old one off can be done as you described.
Or you cook it with an oxy, to make it grow and separate. Has to be a quick heat up, you don't have to melt it or cut it with a torch.
You could possibly achieve the same result with an LPG torch, but I'm not sure it'd get hot enough, quick enough.
You would get the heat transfer into the axle, because it took so long, and it would still be stuck there.
Older mechanics used to do this in the local servos, when they were workshops as well as fuel stops.