What does the rear trailing arm do?

The trailing arm is the piece of the suspension system that connects the vehicle's axle to its chassis. In addition to the trailing arm itself are the trailing arm bushings. These are rubber or polyurethane components that act as cushions and reduce friction between the suspension parts.
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How important is a rear trailing arm?

A trailing arm has a big job to do. First, it's got to provide an unyielding link between the chassis and the rear axle. Next, because the shocks are mounted to it, it must support the weight of the vehicle as well as the tension and compression forces generated between the rear wheels and the chassis.
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What is a trailing arm rear suspension?

A trailing-arm suspension, sometimes referred as trailing-link is a vehicle suspension design in which one or more arms (or "links") are connected between (and perpendicular to and forward of) the axle and a pivot point (located on the chassis of a motor vehicle).
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Do you need trailing arms?

Trailing arms are essential for both the stability and ride comfort of the vehicle. While regular maintenance and inspection prolong their service lives, trailing arms, especially their bushings, are still susceptible to damage.
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How do I know if my rear trailing arm bushings are bad?

4 Symptoms of Failing Trailing Arm Bushings
  1. Strange Noises. Strange noises coming from underneath your car are probably the most common symptoms of failed trailing arm bushings. ...
  2. Tire Wear. Excessive or uneven tire wear is another symptom of failed trailing arm bushings. ...
  3. Poor Handling. ...
  4. Other Failed Bushings.
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Control Arms vs Trailing Arms . . . What's the difference?



Can you drive with broken trailing arm?

Cracked or bent trailing arms should be replaced. Driving with a cracked trailing arm could lead to separation of that side of the axle, and it's only a matter of time before further damage occurs.
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How much does it cost to replace trailing arm?

The average cost for trailing arm replacement is between $323 and $351. Labor costs are estimated between $106 and $133 while parts are priced at $217. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.
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How do you know if your rear control arms are bad?

Below are five common signs that your vehicle's control arms need replacing.
  1. #1) Clunking Noise. One of the first things you'll notice when one or more of your vehicle's control arms goes bad is a clunking noise. ...
  2. #2) Vehicle Pulling to the Side. ...
  3. #3) Uneven Tread Wear. ...
  4. #4) Vibrations When Driving. ...
  5. #5) Visual Damage.
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Can you drive with a broken rear control arm?

How long can I drive with the damaged control arm? With the damaged or worn-out control arm, you can drive your vehicle for a week or less but it should be repaired as soon as you detect the problem through the methods given above before the suspension gets broken.
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What happens when a trailing arm breaks?

A broken trailing arm or worn bushing can send your suspension system into misalignment, which alters where the vehicle's weight sits. Ultimately this leads to premature tire wear. Your vehicle is shorter on one side – Your vehicle sits relatively level.
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Is trailing arm and control arm the same?

For the rear of a vehicle with a solid axle, any style of control arms might be used to connect the rear axle to the frame or unibody. Most often, it is three or four control arms with rubber bushings on each end. These control arms are called "trailing arms" or "rear trailing arms".
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Are trailing arm bushings important?

The trailing arm bushings are critical parts of your vehicle's suspension. If you notice any of the above symptoms, contact a local ASE certified mechanic so they can inspect and replace the trailing arm bushings if needed.
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How much does it cost to replace a control arm?

If just a single control arm needs replacing, it will typically cost between $50 and $100. If the damage is to the whole system, you would need to purchase a control arm kit for around $100 to $250 .
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What happens if you don't replace control arms?

Having damaged control arms and worn bushings or ball joints could cause suspension parts to become misaligned. When this occurs, you may experience issues with steering and handling. Usually you'll notice noises first, either while turning, stopping or driving over speed bumps.
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How important is the control arm on a car?

The control arms allow a driver to steer a car while also guiding the wheels up and down with the road surface. Although they are simplistic in appearance, control arms have a vital role in a vehicle's overall stability and drivability.
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Can I drive with a bad control arm?

Yes, driving with a bad control arm is dangerous. To start, a control arm is a hinged suspension link situated between the chassis and the suspension upright or hub that attaches to the wheel. If something is wrong with the control arm, the following can happen: Your steering will be unpredictable and hard to control.
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Do control arms affect steering?

The control arms are designed to affect the efficient movement of the steering of your car. If you notice that your vehicle's steering wheel moves from side to side, you might have an issue with the bushings or ball joints of your car's control arm.
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Is it worth replacing control arms?

The most common reason to replace a control arm is to improve wheel travel as part of a suspension lift. However, a new control arm can offer more than just increased ride height (lift) and additional wheel travel: Increased durability in the arm itself. A wider range of uniball/ball joint options.
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What problems do worn suspension bushings cause?

When bushings wear, they allow more movement. The driver may feel a shimmy from the front of the vehicle, or hear clunking or rattling noises on rough roads, when turning the wheel or in hard braking. Drivers may also experience poor handling or loose steering.
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How long does it take to replace control arms?

However, control arm bushings need to be pressed in with a special tool or press, which takes some time and adds the labor cost. Is a control arm easy to replace at home? On the difficulty scale from 1 to 10, replacing a control arm is 7 or 8. In the shop, it takes about 1-1.5 hours to replace one control arm.
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What are rear trailing arm bushes?

The trailing arm bushing allows your car's rear trailing arms (which locate the rear suspension and tire) to move up and down over road surfaces and bumps, and allow for compression of the rear coil spring when the car is heavily loaded.
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How long does it take to change bushings on a car?

How many hours approximately does it take to change lower control arm bushings for this car? One side by the book time is 2.1 hour, but you must have special tools to remove bushings and press new ones in.
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How much should it cost to replace control arm bushings?

How much do replacement control arm bushings cost? Most car owners can expect to pay about $300 to completely replace a single bushing. That means you can expect to pay around $1,200 to replace all four bushings simultaneously. Generally, parts cost between $100 to $200, while labor costs between $200 to $300.
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