2002 BMW X5 how to align bushing bolt on front driver side lower control arm on insta
 

I spent several hours trying to install a new driver side lower front control arm, and the problem is I can't get the metal bolt housing inside the rubber bushing to align with the mounting hole. It's a few millimeters to low at the exit end of the bolt mounting hole. The last time I did this I remember if being easier. Any advice?

Thanks,

Aaron

If you only have one side of the car jack up and on a jack stand just jack up both sides of the car, this will eliminate the sway bar from adding a load.

Thanks, I tried your suggestion, and it helped a little, but was not sufficient, so I ended up filing a couple mms off the seam on the control arm and it fit. I suspect it was cheapely manufactured, and not finished by gri ding the weld seam to smooth it down. Thanks, Aaron

should have jacked up the rotor a bit to help it align up, no?

I actually had to disconnect the rotor, and turned wheel all the way to the right, then pulled back the rotor and held it back to get room to move the arm.