I have pulled the drivers side axle without pulling the drivers side apart. once the passengers side is apart and axle is out, you unbolt the tranny as you described and with the jack holding it move it towards the passenger side and down a little to clear the engine well, once you get it to the pass side enough you can pull on the drivers side axle just as it goes into the tranny. those axle nuts are a bitch so if you can avoid pulling them why not.