If the hub is off, the axle will be a little loose in the knuckle. One of the bearing that stabilize it is in the locking hub itself. As far as how to remove the axle, if you already have the hub off, just remove the bearing assembly from the knuckle and you can pull/pry (the seal for the vaccum actuated hubs fits kind of tight) the axle out. However I don't know how much I would worry about those seals if it is the one where the axle goes into the tube. Most axles don't have a seal here and they seem to get tore up pretty often. I'm not saying NOT to fix it, just it's not a huge deal, mine have been torn for a year now.
-Aaron