It really shouldn't matter other than if the thrust block is not in it's position when you slide the axle's in (in other words if part of it falls to one side or the other into the splined area that the axle is supposed to slide into as you pulled the axle out) it could interfere by preventing you from seating the axle all the way in and in turn cause you to need to pull the pumkin because you really don't want a piece like that floating around inside the rear end and without pulling the pumkin all you'll ever acomplish is to knock it down into the pumkin area, I would doubt you'd succesfully get it out any other way.rt383 said