Tony.. take a stiff (robust) piece of wire (clothes hangar?) and wrap it around the inside edge of the inner CV joint (between the inner boot and the tranny) and then wrap the other side tightly around the outermost edge of the outer boot. This holds them together while you are messing with the knuckle and inadvertantly pulling on the axle.
At least, this is what I am gathering. Its a much more crude and fundamental (vs technical) process than I think you're picturing.
Ray
