I disconnected the breather tube before lowering the transfer case. After reinstalling the transfer case, I reconnected the tube blind, meaning I used my hands to guide it in.
As for the front output shaft, I think you are referring to this picture when you refer to the one with all the grease?
You've already gotten the rear shaft out of the way, so you have a sense of what needs to happen with the front one. There is a fair amount of flexibility on the drive shaft "head" that attaches to the output flange because of the CV joint. I would try compressing the drive shaft as much as possible and then pushing it up. If not, try using the screwdriver method I mentioned. The six dots in the picture show where the lip of the output flange is. That is where you would insert the screwdriver to get some leverage.
You can do it!
As for the front output shaft, I think you are referring to this picture when you refer to the one with all the grease?
You've already gotten the rear shaft out of the way, so you have a sense of what needs to happen with the front one. There is a fair amount of flexibility on the drive shaft "head" that attaches to the output flange because of the CV joint. I would try compressing the drive shaft as much as possible and then pushing it up. If not, try using the screwdriver method I mentioned. The six dots in the picture show where the lip of the output flange is. That is where you would insert the screwdriver to get some leverage.
You can do it!
