Ok, I found the right tool:
Hammer drill.
Seriously. I think the hammering action presses the sleeve down enough to gain traction in the bottom of the housing while the drilling action can maintain twist. "Meeeeeant!" Done.
My beef remains: the sleeve's freedom to spin opposes the ability of the piston threading onto it. The service manual procedure does not work. The number of posters here who've had problems and had to search for alternate methods is a testament.