[big gear head]

If you have the early style axles that have 6 bolts holding them in then you will have to smack it with a hammer to break it loose. They kind of press together when you tighten the bolts. The front differential is very hard to remove with the engine in, so remove it now.

 

[big gear head]

I don't know what year they changed the axles, but if you had to remove bolts in the axle then it's the early design. Use a dead blow hammer and hit it on the side where it bolts together. I'm pretty sure that when you remove the boot the CV joint will come apart. I don'[t know about leaving the shaft in the front bearing. I haven't done what you are doing before.