An Adjustable Rear Control Arm (ARCA) determines the rear wheels’ camber settings. This is important on vehicles that are lowered or frequent the track. Whereas the factory arms are adjustable, they have limited range because of the eccentric cam bolt design.
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Do I need adjustable trailing arms?
Adjusting the length of your upper trailing arms becomes necessary when changing the ride height. Today, most people are lowering their vehicles to take advantage of a lower center of gravity and get the perfect stance. In doing that, your driveline angles will change, and your pinion angle will need to be adjusted.
What is a trailing control arm?
https://www.parkmuffler.com/blog/whats-a-trailing-arm-and-how-do-i-know-if-its-broken
What’s the difference between trailing arm and control arm?

Do trailing arms affect alignment?
They just help position the arms properly during suspension movement. If they are destroyed, yes, your alignment may suffer, but you’ll notice steering issues before that.
Do you need an alignment after replacing trailing arms?
Yes. It doesn’t matter if there is a new part is installed on a vehicle. Vehicles need alignment on a regular basis to make sure the thrust line and all wheels are in proper alignment meeting all factory specifications. The alignment affects fuel consumption, tire wear and vehicle handling.
How long do rear trailing arms last?
These assemblies normally wear out between 90,000 and 100,000 miles. They can wear out faster if you go over a large pothole or are involved in a car accident. Various parts of the assembly may wear out as well, such as the bushings or ball joints.
How do I adjust my trailing arms?

How do I know if I have trailing arms?
- Clunking from the rear axle.
- Vehicle is unstable and won’t keep to a straight line.
- Excessive and uneven rear tire wear.
- Vehicle is lower on one side.
- Extreme heat.
- Excessive twisting.
- Fluid leaks.
Can you drive with a broken rear trailing arm?
The short answer is no – you should not drive a car with broken suspension. Regardless of whether it’s a broken coil spring or a broken shock absorber, you cannot drive a vehicle which has any element of the suspension that is broken.
How much does it cost to replace a trailing arm?
The average cost for trailing arm replacement is between $325 and $353. Labor costs are estimated between $107 and $135 while parts are priced at $218. 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.
How do I know if my rear control arm is bad?
- #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) Vehicle Pulling to the Side.
- #3) Uneven Tread Wear.
- #4) Vibrations When Driving.
- #5) Visual Damage.
When should I replace my trailing arms?
Signs your trailing arm bushings need to be replaced include: A clunking noise when you accelerate or brake. Excessive wear on the tires. The steering becomes loose, especially when turning corners.
What happens if rear control arm breaks while driving?
If your control arm breaks while driving, you may have trouble steering or going straight or a wheel could fall off your vehicle. It’s certainly not ideal! The control arm is what connects your front wheels to your car. So if it breaks, it can easily lead to an accident.
How do you know if your trailing arm bushings are bad?

What does a trailing arm look like?

What happens when rear control arm bushings go bad?
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.
How long do trailing arm bushings last?
The bushings or ball joints are definitely wear items, and are often ready for replacement between 75k and 100k miles.
Why do trailing arms get suspended?
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.
Can you replace just one control arm?
Ball joints typically cannot be replaced separately, so the entire control arm needs to be replaced. The ball joints are critical to vehicle alignment, so these control arms should also be replaced in pairs. Inspect the ball joint boot and look for signs of dry rotting or cracks, as well as leaking grease.
Do trailing arms affect camber?
Expedition Leader. If it’s a true trailing arm, the camber doesn’t change as the suspension moves due to geometry. It would only move due to the loads twisting things (such as the arms). The same thing happens to solid axles even.
Can I drive with worn control arm?
Drive with bad control arm bushings is not safe. Because when the control arms or bushings are worn or broken, the steering becomes unpredictable and dangerous for you and other drivers. Even if you keep the steering wheel straight, your vehicle may be driving randomly to one side.
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.
What happens if you don’t replace control arms?
Your steering will be unpredictable and hard to control. Your vehicle may pull to one side, even when you are holding the steering wheel straight. Your car will be unsafe to drive on any road.
Is trailing arm suspension independent?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailing-arm_suspension