how to pull the drive shaft out of the transfer case

hello, i was wondering how you get the front drive shaft out of the transfer case, I undid the four bolts holding the u joint to the front end off a 1998 chevy s10 4x4 with an auto trans, asuming that it would slide out of the case like the rear shaft does, i loosened up the strap on that rubber boot as well. is there a trick. pleast help... thank you
There is a retaining ring that holds the shaft into the transfer case. Try using a pry bar and see if you can get it unlocked from the ring.