I went to a larger tire years ago and needed to cut another 1" off the rear end. I also cut the axles with a cut off wheel. Remove all but 1 stud set it up on some v blocks have a helper spin the axle with the stud while you cut this way heat will not be an issue. Then use a flap wheel at an angle while spinning to remove the burrs. Good as new. If you don't have v blocks cut some out of wood. This is if you have enough spline to do it. I also recently did this for a friend on some new axles that were too long by 1 1/4" because someone measured the housing wrong.