Shaft Length

Yes, if ur gonna take the block out of a cone unit u will have to totally dissemble it. Kim
Is that what's being worked on? I guess so. Oops. So....
I guess you really need to make those axles short enough so they don't hit those buttons.
Could you measure (might need to do some calculating) button-to-button, add about 1/4" just to be safe, and then cut both the axles equally so that there is that much clearance between the cut ends when they are installed in the axle tubes?