When your finger slips through the TP: JK edition

[Jody Treadway]

I've regeared easily over 600 JKs. Usually they go smoothly, but there's one common issue that comes up from time to time. The rear axle shaft retaining plate nuts
The rear axle shaft is held in place with a retainer plate. The plate has 4 studs that are pressed in to it and them slide through 4 holes on the housing end. When you remove them, occasionally they knurled stud will spun in the plate. When that happens, you gotta get a little creative.
On the rear facing studs, you can cut them off and replace with a nut and bolt. However, on the 2 forward facing ones, here's what I do.
Post one of deux.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Deux deux?

 

[Jody Treadway]

There's no way to hold the smooth head (@McCracken) so you can loosen the nut. My technique is to weld the stud to the plate. Here's how to access it.
Pry the ebrake shoes back just enough to get the welder torch in there. Apply a heavy tack to the head of the stud (@McCracken) and secure it to the plate. Not too much heat where you would possibly damage the seal. But enough to hold. After doing so, repeat the technique if need be ( I have 4 of the 8 studs spin on the one I started today).
There may be other ways, but this one works for me.
See pics

 

[Jeff B]

I would have done nothing less then a tack too..