So what does the other end of this bolt look like? Is it a ball joint with a threaded end? It's holding me up from getting lower and I'm curious to see if it's possible to replace it with a slightly shorter piece of hardware. Since the pic isn't exactly descriptive, this is looking at the front most joint of the front control arm attaching to the subframe. Not the usual front control arm bushing that everyone is talking about recently. I imagine it'd be pretty disastrous to catch it on a pothole so shortening it a bit would really help. :lol:
That may be an option, but I'm guessing that the other end is a ball joint. I could be totally wrong though Yah, I may just machine it down, but I'd like to know what I'm working with. If it's just a bolt through the joint, it'd be pretty easy to just source a slightly shorter one. Pics for you: http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/suspension-brake-modifications/1091-lowered-my-car-half-foot.html
It has a T-40 slot on the end, if you cut it off, it would need to be done on the vehicle or there would be no way to hold the bolt while giving it torque.
Thanks for the help k-huevo. So that pic is the same bolt, just pointed upwards? Am I seeing the orientation correctly?
To answer your question Rally; yes, Keith's picture is an R56 control arm upside down. You can indeed cut-off the extra threads however it may make removal if you need to service it in the future very difficult. Perhaps cutting a slot in the end of the shank would help in the future, but that's just an idea. Here's a pic I have from SeaBass:
Bumping an old thread to point out that MINI wised up with the Countryman and recessed this bolt end which, on the second gens, is the lowest point on the car and scrapes constantly when lowered enough. Of other interest is returning to the outer ball joint design of the first gens rather than stick with the upward pointing ball joint of the second gens. Much easier to machine roll center adjusters again. New control arm design too.