I popped a shaft out of my XR3i at the weekend to do the oil seal. What a pain in the arse! Usually you can pop the track rod end out, pop the bottom ball joint out and then the shaft will come out with a bit of persuasion from a crowbar between the shaft and the 'box. Mine wouldn't play ball and I ended up removing the gearbox cradle to get the correct angle to get a 1" chisel between them, then it popped out nice and easy with a little tap, damn thing!!

I didn't have any trouble with oil spilling out though..... There wasn't any left in there

Lee