trying to remove rear axle

[Fazerider]

I'd leave the seals alone. the reason the bearings are still good is that the seals are still working at keeping the dirt out. if you take them out there's a good chance you'll damage them and they'll start letting the dirt in

:agree

I definitely would not open them up. Either leave them alone or replace them as a (totally unnecessary) precaution.
FWIW, mine are fine after 17 years and 170-odd thousand miles of all-weather riding.