Quick question...I have all of the hub assembly off....do I need to seperate the spindle from the lower ball joint to get the drive axle out?

Also, I have the bolt out of the lower ball joint clamp and I can't get it back in....its like there is a groove in the bolt....is that normal? Then it feels like there is hard steel protuding out of the inside of the clamp that is keeping the bolt from going back through the clamp.

Thanks for any help out there.