Back in the dim dark ages, I saw a pic of someone who used a long piece of plastic plumbing tube which fully contained the half shafts all the way to the uprights.
The tube kept the uprights apart.
He then used two pieces of rope - tying each upright to the opposite top damper mount.
It was a little wobbly but OK for pushing the car around the shop.
I can't remember what he did with the lower links.