OK, here's the deal... I just replaced both front axels on the GF's civic. In the process I had to pop the lower ball joint out of the lower control arm. This required pulling out the cotter pin and taking off the crown nut, then seperating the LBJ from the LCA with a ball joint puller. The problem is that now I'm trying to put the crown nut back on the LBJ bolt but the LBJ bolt is turning along with it. There is nowhere up top for me to grab the bolt to stop it from spinning. So my question is... did I fubar the LBJ when seperating it from the LCA, or is it normal for the bolt to spin like this.... And, any ideas how to hold that sucker still while I tighten up the crown nut?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

-Luke

are you sure there is no way to hold it? Look at the top of the ball joint stud, is there a hex or torx patern recessed in the top?

If its just threads and thats it you can try puttin the castle nut back on as far as you can and jack the car up so that the weight of the car is on nut, make sure you can get some good threads though, that might give you enough pressure on the ball joint to keep it from spinning.

Its pretty common for ball joints to do that. Just make sure it actually isnt loose when you are done.

oh an impact gun makes it much easier, short bursts to keep the ball joint from spining too much and ruining the joint.

Jay

Appreciate the input. I've called it quits for the day but will be back at it tomorrow. I couldn't find a torx or hex or anything anywhere up top but come to think of it there was a rubber cap or something that may come off to reveal something. My main concern was that i fubared the ball joints, but I guess not. Thanks again.

-Luke

Please try the following (in any order)

-Impact gun.
-Give the lower control arm a couple love taps with a big hammer while turning the castle nut.
-Put a jack under the control arm & put a little pressure on it.
-Take it to a mechanic.