Thanks for all the replies. Jim Finn says he disconnects the lower ball joint and tie rod to. I'm going to try that to avoid having to get an alignment. I looked under the car today and it looks like it will be pretty easy to do it that way.
I can still drive while waiting on the new axle to arrive but I won't be going to far from home. Don't want to end up like this again. It's no fun when you're sitting in the middle of nowhere after dark waiting for a tow truck. 😬