4link tab Welding

When welding the tabs for a 4link onto a crossmember or the axle, what do all of you guys do to keep the tabs from bending in or outwards so you can fir the bar end back in it? I was gonna cut a piece of metal and tack it, but I found a pretty good size piece of allthread and a long nut on it. So im gonna try using it, like slide it between the tabs and adjust with a wrench to just a little over 3". once its welded up ill loosen the nut and pull it out. would this work ok?