I have a 2001 Monte LS. I recently replaced both my lower control arms. They came already assembled with new lower ball joints. The original ball joints were attached to the control arm with 3 rivets which were flush with the control arm. The new ones, however, are attached with 3 bolts and one of the bolts hits the bottom of the steering knuckle when i turn the wheel. Is there something else that could be messed up, causing the bolts to hit? Can i just take an angle grinder and grind the bolt down? Theres about 1/3 inch of extra thread and i only need to take off maybe 1/8 inch. Would this be safe?

 

As long as you only shorten the threaded side of the bolt shouldn't be a problem. Keep checking the nuts after a while they tend to come loose.

 

The bolt head should be on the top of the control arm and the threads and nut on the bottom. If this is not how the new arms are, I would simply remove the nut/bolt set up one at a time and correct it.

 

@ Maniac
For whatever reason the new one came with the bolts the other way (bolt head on bottom and threads on top) which seems ridiculous now. Lol
Im going to put the threads on bottom like you said. It shouldnt hit after that.
I cant believe i over looked the most obvious solution. Lol
THANK YOU

 

No problem. Sometimes the easiest answers are right in front of us
We have all been there! Hope this is a quick and easy fix for you.