Ok, so it has finally cooled down enough to be able to work on my car again.

So i am swapping rear sub-frame on my main car and parts car, the parts car is a 5 lug LSD and my car is a 4 lug open.

Anyways, i also have some new shocks and springs (tokio blues and tein springs).

I took apart the stockers and got the new ones put together, then i tried to tighten the nut on the top to hold it all together.

It will not tighten at all, it just spins the shaft and i can't figure out anyways to keep it from spinning so it will tighten.

I have now removed and put the nut on the first few threads so many times it is getting close to stripping.

So how in the world do you tighten the top nut without the shaft spinning? I can't clamp the shaft without scratching it.

is there a trick i am missing?

 

depending on the shock you might have to insert a bit down into the end of the shock rod to keep it from turning, or some have a narrowed square end you could hold with pliers or a vice. You are compressing the springs before you attempt to tighten the nut right?

 

Impact gun.

 

Nope, nothing like that on these, just a flat top that the threads go all the way to the end.

Yep the springs are compressed, though they only need to be compressed about 1/2 an inch.

Yep, tried it, just spins the shaft.

 

With the nut threaded on as much as possible, decompress the spring which should put enough tension on the rod to keep it from spinning.

 

Also, put the struts on the car. Lower the car onto the suspension. Now you can tighten the nuts.

Piece of cake.

 

Well I actually tried this at first, but it doesn't put enough pressure on the shaft due to teh spring just barely compressing when it is all together.

That is an idea, i just might try that.