How do you tighten the LCA shaft?

The structure of the LCA and my vise grip are apparently not compatible. What size vice grip are you using?
Nothing special, vice grip wise.
Just a standard 8" one.
Then maybe, a needle nose style, vice grip would get up in there for you.

All that i can tell you is i have been taking out LCA's from cars, for probably 40 years, and rebuilding them, and haven't had any difficulties in sticking a vice grip up in the cross member to hold onto the shaft.
You gotta remember decades ago doing things at a wrecking yard, these battery pack tools weren't invented yet, so you did what you had to do, in taking things apart.
Did i get lucky in 40 years, not getting anything that wouldn't come apart. I dunno.

vice grip needle nose.jpeg