[s-cars] Front Suspension - Lower Pinch Bolt Question

[Manuel Sanchez]

Fellow S-heads,

I am in the process of re-installing the hub/strut uprights back into  
the S6 and I have a question regarding the lower control arm ball  
joint with regard as to where it should be located for proper  
tightening.

One one side of the car the ball joints male end is crammed into the  
female portion (OK,OK, this is an easy softball for your knucklehead  
jokes) of the strut housing upright further than the other other  
side. The side that is penetrating deeper (ducks and covers) would  
seem to interfere with the axle, in that the tip of the ball joint  
shaft is touching a portion of the axle. The other side of the car  
does not have such deep penetration. I did not pry this joint apart  
during removal (which does not mean that someone else did not I  
suppose).

So the big question is, how far should the lower control arms  
balljoint shaft stick out (if at all) above the strut housing  
uprights joint.