no, do not lossen the axle nut as it is one time use and needs to be torqued to 200 -210 ft-lbs
to get the strut out loosen the strut mount bolt on the hub and raise hub as high as possible on the strut, then separate the ball joint, the hub then can be slid off the strut but becareful to not hyper entend the cv joint. support the hub and drop the strut out
install is the reverse
