Exactly for that reason (because it happened to me) I leave the tie rod end attached to the carrier and remove the bolts from the strut tower & lower ball joint, then swing the carrier out enough to pop the axle out of the tranny.
Interesting way of keeping the rotor from spinning when breaking the axle nut free. But if it's possible to remove the center cap on your mag/wheel? I like to loosen it with all4 wheels on the ground.