RN Saloon info (if any)

[squeak]

Have you jacked up the body to let the rear axle 'hang' with the wheels off the ground. The torque tube will move away from the tail shaft and perhaps give you the clearance to remove without cutting the carden bolts.  
I have had success using shim washers beneath the carden blocks to remove play and center this joint. Others have extolled the virtues of David's replacement hardy spicer shafts and I shall do that eventually.