HELP! Trying to remove IRS Diff covers....

[superbuggy2165]

My 2165 buggy has had 10 years worth of thrashing and has done very well on its 4.125 IRS gearbox, however something has gone nasty clunky in the diff...eeek
....So engine cleanup and gbox fettle time...
Anyway, I've taken the gearbox out and undid all the diff side plate cover nuts, thinking I could just remove the side plates with diff gears on each side, but it just wont happen, I've tried to prise the covers off, but they only come out 1/2" and even mildly tried to pull the drive shaft heads out.., any advise before I ruin the box...
Thanks.....Its doing my head in...I know I'm missing something..

[dangerous]

Take the CV flanges off first.
There is a cirvclip under the plastic/rubber caps within the flange.
once these are removed, the side cover will have nothing else holding it to the case other than the 8 nuts that you have removed already and friction.

[efi67vw]

yeah without popping those drive flanges off, your in trouble.