when I pressed mine out the caps were so frozen in the shaft that the tabs bent and I had to replace the shaft yoke end. but if you got it to move at all the method mentioned above does work wonders.

a cutting torch makes easy work of them.

and yes they can last 250k
mine went out about 215k mudding and sand and lots of creek running.

the toyota u joints are the best replacement to use if you can get them. there worth the extra that the stealer(dealer)charges for them