K1500 CV axle replacement

[1976gmc20]

Okay, I'm in the middle of this and am about stumped.

The truck is blocked up on the frame, wheel and tire off, and I've got the big nut and the six flange bolts off and the spline is popped back a little into the hub. But even with the suspension hanging I can't get the axle out, because I can't get the axle flange past the differential flange. I only need about 1/4 inch more.

I can't get the sway bar link off because after popping off the plug on the bottom I find the long bolt is somehow canted so you can't get a socket over the ends of the threads. Tried jacking up the lower A-frame but that didn't straighten it out.

So I thought maybe the shock was holding up the lower A-frame so I took out the lower shock bolt and let down the A-frame again. No better so I guess the upper arm was resting on the stop already.

It just looks like that if I could get the flange past that the whole axle would come out towards the middle underside of the truck. I did take the differential skid plate off for clearance since I'm starting on the driver's side axle.

I thought that this was supposed to be a fairly simple job. Is there anything that I'm missing ??? (I really don't want to take the ball joints apart; just put in a new upper last summer)