Trailing Arms with Fitting Position Front Axle

Nolathane trailing arms locate a solid rear axle, and on many 4WDs the front axle too, holding it in position fore and aft while it moves up and down with the road. The range includes complete replacement trailing arms with Nolathane bushings already fitted, and heavy duty adjustable trailing arms that correct pinion angle on lifted 4WDs and 4x4 wagons.

Whether a performance car is shuffling under acceleration, a classic needs its rear end brought back to new, or a lifted 4WD has developed driveline vibration, the right trailing arm restores accurate axle location without the time and risk of pressing bushes into old arms.

How Trailing Arm Suspension Works

A trailing arm is a suspension link that runs roughly lengthways along the vehicle. Its front end pivots on a bush mounted to the chassis or body, and its rear end connects to the axle. As the wheel rises and falls, the arm swings through an arc, keeping the axle in the correct fore-and-aft position.

Live-axle vehicles typically use upper and lower trailing arms on each side, often called a four-link, with a panhard rod or angled arms to locate the axle sideways. The lower arms carry most of the driving and braking loads, while the upper arms control axle rotation, also called axle wrap or wind-up. Together they set the wheelbase and the pinion angle, the angle of the differential?s input relative to the tailshaft (driveshaft or propshaft).

Semi-trailing arm and twist-beam designs used on some independent and front-wheel-drive rear suspensions work on a similar principle but use different parts.

Trailing Arms vs Control Arms

The terms overlap. ?Control arm? is the general name for any suspension link that controls wheel movement. ?Trailing arm? describes a control arm that runs lengthways and trails behind its chassis pivot. On a four-link rear axle, the same parts may be listed as upper and lower trailing arms or as upper and lower control arms. What matters when ordering is the vehicle, the axle (front or rear) and the arm position (upper or lower).

Causes of Trailing Arm Failure

The arm itself is rarely the first part to fail. Most problems start with the bushes or with damage:

• Rubber bushes hardening, cracking or separating from heat, ozone and fluid contamination
• Impacts with rocks, ruts or kerbs bending the arm
• Corrosion weakening the arm or its mounting brackets
• Towing, heavy loads and repeated hard launches overloading the bushes
• Lifting a vehicle without correcting arm length, which forces the bushes to work at an angle they weren?t designed for

Signs of a Worn or Damaged Trailing Arm

• Clunking or knocking from the rear over bumps, when accelerating or when braking
• Rear-end shuffle, axle tramp or wheel hop under acceleration
• The vehicle steering itself from the rear or wandering on a straight road
• Uneven rear tyre wear
• Driveline vibration after a lift, often linked to an incorrect pinion angle
• Cracked, split or extruded bush material at either end of the arm
• A visibly bent arm or damaged mounting bracket

Driving With a Bad Trailing Arm

A worn or damaged trailing arm lets the axle move under load, so the vehicle can feel unstable under braking, during lane changes and over rough roads. It also allows the axle to steer slightly as it moves, which wears tyres and makes handling less predictable. A badly worn or bent arm should be inspected and replaced promptly. Continuing to drive on it loads up the other arms, the panhard rod and the driveline.

Trailing Arm Lifespan

A trailing arm can last the life of the vehicle if it isn?t bent or corroded, but its factory rubber bushes usually wear out much sooner, especially on vehicles that tow, tour or see regular off-road use. Inspect the bushes and arms at every service and after any heavy impact.

Complete Replacement Trailing Arms

Pressing new bushes into an old arm often means making up press tools, struggling with seized sleeves and risking damage to the arm. Nolathane complete trailing arms arrive with Nolathane bushings already fitted, ready to bolt in. They suit performance and classic vehicles with a solid rear axle where the original arms are worn, rusted or bent.

Adjustable Trailing Arms for Lifted 4WDs

Lifting a 4WD with a solid axle changes the angle of every trailing arm. The axle rotates, the pinion angle changes and the tailshaft runs at a steeper angle, which can cause driveline vibration, uneven universal joint wear and reduced caster on a solid front axle.

Nolathane heavy duty adjustable trailing arms use a turnbuckle design to change arm length incrementally. Lengthening or shortening the upper or lower arms rotates the axle back to the correct pinion angle and can restore wheelbase and caster. Some arms are on-car adjustable for fine tuning while fitted, while others are off-car adjustable, set to length before fitting. Each listing shows whether an arm is fixed or adjustable, its fitting position and any lift range or clearance notes.

Choosing Trailing Arms

• Confirm the axle (front or rear) and position (upper or lower) on your vehicle
• Measure or confirm the lift height, as adjustable arms suit a specific range
• Check clearance with larger tyres, exhausts and fuel tanks
• Decide whether you need factory-length replacement arms or adjustable arms for geometry correction
• Plan to correct pinion angle and caster together on lifted vehicles

Our fitment guarantee means the arms you order for your vehicle are confirmed to suit it.

Fitting Trailing Arms

Fitting suits professional workshops and experienced home mechanics. Support the vehicle on stands with the axle supported, and replace one arm at a time so the axle stays located. Set adjustable arms to the required length before fitting, matching left and right sides. Tighten pivot bolts with the vehicle at ride height, as bushes clamped at full droop are pre-twisted and wear quickly. After fitting, check pinion angle, then have a wheel alignment (tracking) carried out, and re-check bolt torque after the first few hundred kilometres.

Limitations and Compliance

Adjustable trailing arms correct geometry but can?t remove every effect of a large lift. Some arms are labelled for off-road use only, and rules on suspension modifications differ across the UK and Europe, including MOT or periodic inspections. Check the requirements where your vehicle is registered and tell your insurer about any modifications. Polyurethane bushes also transmit slightly more road feel than soft rubber.

Built on 50 Years of Bushing Experience

Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. The signature red bushings are made in a range of durometers (hardness grades), are mechanically fitted with minimal crush so the arm pivots freely, and offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering.

Shop Trailing Arms

Trailing arms are part of our suspension arms range, and individual trailing arms cover one-side repairs.

Find the trailing arms for your vehicle, then order online with fast shipping or have them fitted by a Nolathane reseller. Every arm is backed by our warranty, 60-day returns give you time if a part isn?t right, and our local support team can help whether you?re repairing worn suspension, correcting pinion angle after a lift or upgrading for improved handling and performance,