CV Joint: How to disassemble?

[Luis A.]

It isn't obvious to me how the CV joints come off the shaft and I don't want to damage them in the process of pulling them off.

I can't get a sufficient angle for the balls to come off. Does the complete CV joint get pulled off the shaft with a puller first?

 

[DaveG]

Take the snap ring off of the end of the shaft and the shaft should slide out with a light tap of a hammer.
DaveG

 

[Luis A.]

Maybe it's an E3 thing but they were very, very tight on the shaft. After the circlip was off it required a lot of force with a puller to remove the inner race which is on the shaft.

Very little wear present on the outer race and inner race.

The balls are in hypnotically clean condition...