Trailing arms

What are trailing arms. When I had my tires looked at they said my trailing arm was bent. I went to O'Reillys web site and keyed in trailing arm but found no luck. What is it and is it called something else maybe.

Trailing arms Is a term usually associated to the arms that connect the rear axle to the frame or Unibody. A FWD car will have Two lower arms that attach to the rear axle. They are on the bottom and mount forward to a point just in front of the rear tires.

What do I ask for at parts store? Is putting this on a big job and if they are bent can't they be just straightened? The young kid at parts store didn't know what trailing arms were so I left and now wondering what to do. Is it important to fix or replace trailing arms?

How badly is it bent, Can you get a Pic??

If you don't have any alignment issues... the car drives straight & you don't have any wierd tire wear on the back, I wouldn't worry about it. WHat happened to the car... those are pretty hard to bend. Has it been ditched or hit??


As for how difficult to replace..... I can't imagine that they are that hard, but can be a PIA if its an older car, with rusty bolts.

The car drives straight. I don't know how it got bent because the car has not been damaged, wrecked or anything. While it was in shop being repaired awhile back and getting aligned they told me but they didn't ask me how it may have happened. The only thing I can think of is that my daughter learned to drive in it and had sometimes hit a curve so maybe that is how it happened but we never noticed a problem. The car straight but I do have some tire wear on back. I don't have a picture. I was trying to find the replacement part but have had no luck. I live in a small town and the parts store didn't have trailing arm in its computer. Maybe I have to go to a tire store since it is maybe part of the suspencion.

You're probably better off getting one at a junk yard, as they'll know exactly what you're talking about from your description.

If you're dead set on new, then a mechanic's shop (Tire store if they do other stuff as well) should be able to get it. Why didn't the mechanic who did the alignment offer or quote you to replace it??? Never seen a mechanic let a potential source of money go out the door without a fight...lol. Unless he was trying to pull a fast one on you.

Did he point out where the bend was or how he could tell it was bent??

i found a website that offers OEM GM online catalogs 24-7. had the parts shipped to my home cheaper than buying from my local dealer. www.gm-car-parts.com

Thank you for the website. Can these be put on at home easily?