I need to replace the ball joints on my 2002 SE. It has aluminum control arms. When looking for parts online I see ball joints for steel control arms and for aluminum control arms. Can anyone tell me what the differnce in the two ball joints would be? I recently bought one from a local parts store (before I knew there were different ones depending on your control arms) and the bolts that came with it are a smaller diameter than the holes in the control arm. Is that the difference? I have asked the "techs" at a couple of the sites I've visited as well as the guys at the parts counter but they can only tell me what they see in the catalog.
TIA
Ball joint replacement
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Rochester SE
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Re: Ball joint replacement
I'm not aware of any 2000+ Bonneville that has steel control arms. They are all aluminum, so I don't know why some would be listed for steel. I'd only be able to guess, but as aluminum is a softer metal than steel, it may need the larger bolts for additional strength.
*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.