There’s a sweet spot for smacking the drive shaft to separate it. If it wont pop apart with a hard smack (I used a foot long or bigger cold chisel, placed it on the centre point of the cage and smacked it with a bf hammer. I’m 5’10” and a runner rather than a meathead - so it’s not a strength thing) then rotate the shaft 20 degrees or so and try again etc until it separates with a whack. Aim the end into a bucket to catch it. From memory optimum angle of attack was to aim the shaft slightly back down towards the side of the car, approach from under the front and hit it towards the rear of the car with a sharp blow... I struggled for a while and then suddenly after turning it to the right point it just popped off. Same for both sides.

Now ball joints however. There’s NFW those bastards come apart with just a tap of a hammer. No idea how all the tv show mechanics get that sht to work.... have to use a massive separator every time!