I realize I am probably showing my age and the fact that I have been away from hot rodding for a few years, but when did trailing arms (rear trailing arms) turn into "lower control arms" and why?

 

They have been "lower control arms" for as long as I've been around hot-rodding. That's only 30 or 35 years I suppose, so I'm really just a newbie. Forgive me for my inexperience.

"Trailing arms" are unique to IRS Vettes up until the C4. They are those incredibly stupid sheet metal things with that giant wheel bearing permanently made into them that you can't grease and therefore always wipes itself out, such that every 63-82 Vette owner I've ever known is perpetually on the trailing arms - half shafts - rear calipers treadmill. They can't drive the car, very far anyway, because one or more of those things is always defective.

Go look at any old car with a real rear suspension, not leaf springs; a Chevelle, full-size car, etc. All of those have lower control arms; and up until these cars, upper control arms too. These cars however use a torque arm and a Panhard bar instead, to positively locate the rear end with respect to the car.

 

Yes, I have had the same trouble adjusting to the new lingo. Control arms have always been refered to as "upper front arms" in these neck of the woods. Rears have always been trailing arms.