If you remove the drive shaft from the slip yoke, be sure to mark it with a paint marker. When you go to put it back, you could put it back in "out of phase" and have some bad vibrations.

You'll still have to tie up the other half of the drive shaft. I really see no need to pull it out of the slip.

88 4R, 350 V8, R150 5 speed Sold <...uot; />
97 4R, stock, daily driver
98 Sienna, kid and dog hauler, wife's ride