Removing the RH driveshaft

[Dark Diver]

I recently pulled the X12XE engine from my Corsa, by the top, leaving the gearbox in the engine bay. It was a piece of cake.

Things are different now for reinstalling the new engine : I can't exactly align the motor and the gearbox because the clutch cover on the engine bumps into the RH driveshaft close to the differential.
I read somewhere that the RH driveshaft has to be removed from the differential to clear the clutch cover, then reinstalled.

No problem I thought. I removed the RH wheel, the lower suspension joint-ball, and started to pop the driveshaft hard (from the wheel side) to pass the circlip.
It doesn't work !
I also used 2 screwdrivers as a lever on the differential side, to push the driveshaft body, with no success.

What can I do ? Purchase the specific tool to remove driveshaft ? Pop the driveshaft even harder ?
Or Dremel the clutch cover to clear the driveshaft and get rid of removing the driveshaft ?

I spent many hours just to reassemble the engine and the gearbox. It's making me crazy ! Please help.
Thanks in advance.

[johnny]

There normally easy to pull out by hand tbh have you released it from the hub? I would just pull harder tbh

[andy w]

Tbh when doing an engine change over the years i have always to the drive shafts out of the box and removed the box and engine in one then splitting them once they are clear of the engine bay. Both Shafts should be way to pull out like johnny says but again they need to be completely broken down from the hub and any other components. Hope this helps

[Dark Diver]

I pulled by hand from the wheel hub (it's easier so I can pull harder) and from the shaft itself (not very easy from under the car which is on jack stands).
I also used 2 screwdrivers as levers on the CV joint and the gearbox.

Is there anything else to unlock/unscrew/release/remove... before (a retaining clip or screw) ?

Edit: It seems that the trick would be to rotate the driveshaft while pulling it... I'll give it a try.

[johnny]

No take it out of the hub and a slight twist and pull and it will release