WarrenW

I'm finally making progress w/ the rear axle install and now I've run into a problem. When I wrench the nut for the lower ball joint nut, the shaft turns. How can I keep the shaft from turning so I can get the nut on?

starchland

its usual for it to spin sometimes just by design. Try pushing the balljoint bolt through the hole more so theres enough pressure to stop it from spinning (maybe a light tap with a mallet). But generally if your thread is clean the bolt should spin on enough to grab it and pull it through.

Nick.

Use a pry bar on the underside of the ball joint and apply pressure up. This should allow you to tighten the crap out of it

WarrenW

Thanks. Shortly after posting my question did a search and found the info in this thread. I put a floor jack under the lower A arm, near the ball joint and that put enough pressure on it to allow me to get the nut on and torqued.

SgtB

I spray the stud with brake cleaner . It cleans any grease off of the stud so it sticks into the socket better. It helps to chase tap the threads too.