No, there is definitely room to get at the bolts from the other side
of the swing arm (i.e with removing the axle). You'll want to put your
vehicle up on jack stands and remove the wheel to do this. You'll need
to rotate things too as you remove the bolts (you usually can get to 2
at a time without too much difficulty.)

I find it preferable to take the inner bolts off the transmission
first, then remove the bolts off the axle end. I use a long pry bar in
between the wheel studs to prevent rotation of the shaft while
loosening the bolts.

On Jan 3, 2009, at 1:11 AM, Mark A Kippert wrote:

> In looking at the diagram on page 42.2 the axle shaft passes thru the
> boxy portion of the trailing arm. This being the case it doesn't look
> like you can get access to that end of the axle without pulling the
> wheel bearing housing. Is this true (I have not had time to crawl
> under my van to see)?
>
> I'll be laying in a field, under the van, on a cold winter day to do
> this so the less time I spend laying under there the better.