No, you don't have to disconnect the "drag link" from the steering arms. Once you unbolt the steering arms from the backing plates, just turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, and let the steering arms/tie rod/drag link assembly just lay on the floor still connected to each other. I wired the backing plates and wheel cylinders up to a fender bolt so I didn't have to undo the brake hoses 'cause I didn't want to re-bleed the brakes. Then undo the u-bolts and slide the axle out.
