Any reason not to do this?

Everyone has been really helpful here. I am very appreciative. As far as following a path, this has been a long confusing nightmare. Who would have ever thought by inserting the passenger side axle first I'd throw the other side out of whack?! All I did was insert passenger side axle and rotate it while tightening the flange bolts down with a ratchet. Everyone kept talking about the thrust button being in the way. It just snowballed from there.

Yes,, but then you diss-regarded the post to try and twist the axle slightly to engage the spline,, and then RRR explanation of loosening the carrier bolts to re-align the splines.. and a coupla others tried too..

Oh well,, re-read everything,, and your next path should be fairly clear..

We're all pulling for you like you wouldn't believe, (except maybe one.. lol)...

It'll come together...