The part of the clip holding the bolt should be fairly level when you begin and when you are done. This means that the bolt will be vertical and acts like a jack screw as the threads push down on the clip and that tensions the bracket on the sink. So now you need some method to capture and securely hold the end of the bolt without it popping out, or splintering wood under the counter. Drilling a part way hole in the underside of the counter might work or you might need to glue and nail another piece of wood of suitable thickness with a hole drilled in it first. The clips aren't meant to take a lot of pressure anyway, more of a way to keep things steady while the silicone sealant sets up.

You'll probably like the new granite as much if not more over time. Trying to live with a "backwards" sink is not something you'll probably learn to love over time though! Be grateful they're not giving you a hard time about fixing it. If you're really worried, go check out the new granite slab and that might make you feel more comfortable.

Just bought a granite sink from Costco and I can't figure out how the clips work to fasten the sink to the counter. Sorry that some pics are a little blurry. These instructions are useless: Here is the clip attached to the sink: Here are the brackets and screws provided for a topmount installation: Here is what I tried, but it doesn't seem tight enough since the brackets on the sink bend instead of tightening the sink down: I tried putting the clips in all sorts of positions, but none of them make sense to me. Anyone know how these are supposed to work?

"I honestly prefer the drop in type over the undermount sinks." We get customers with this preference, however, too many make this choice because they had black/brown crud between their sink flange and stone bottom on thier undermount and want that eliminated. Black/brown crud between a sink flange and stone bottom is symptomatic of a leaking sink. The clips and/or blocks are inadequate, the seal between the sink flange and stone bottom is broken, and it sucks in dirty sink water by capillary action. This permanently wet situation is perfect mold and mildew habitat. A sink properly undermounted with straps doesn't leak. No crud ever. If you like the look of a top mount, go for it please, however, don't do it to eliminate crud. In fact, you'll be cleaning crud from every time you bumped the proud flange.