I tried everything to get the nut off this shaft - pipe on breaker bar, heat... nothing worked. With the heat I did manage to get it loose but it would only turn a little bit. Then I resorted to cutting the nut with a cut-off tool and a 3/32 wheel. That took the better part of an hour but I did finally manage to get the bolt off. BUT I thought I could just drive the rod out and the whole assembly would come out. No such luck.

It happens that there is one simple spring lock on the other side of the shaft that releases the rod, but that leaves me with the question... What the heck is that big nut for? Unless the rod is a press fit and the nut is just there to pull it into the hole, I can't figure it out for the life of me.