View source for Trailing-arm suspension

{{Short description|Form of vehicle suspension}}
[[File:Oleo trailing link main landing gear.JPG|thumb|right|Trailing-arm (or link) landing gear leg on a [[Cessna 404]] aircraft]]
{{redirect|Leading arm|the Leading Arm preceding the Magellanic Stream|High-velocity cloud}}

A '''trailing-arm suspension''', also referred to as '''trailing-link''', is a form of [[suspension (vehicle)|vehicle suspension]]. In a motor vehicle it places one or more horizontal arms (or "links") perpendicular to and forward of the [[axle]] on the  [[chassis]] or [[unibody]], which are connected to the axle or wheels with pivot joint(s). These are typically used on the rear axle or wheels of vehicles, but also found in both front and main landing gear of aircraft. 

A "semi trailing-arm" (or semi trailing-link) is a common form of [[independent rear suspension]] on automobiles, particularly those with [[front wheel drive]] (where it allows a flatter rear floor pan).
 
'''Leading arms''' are similar horizontal arms, perpendicular to the axle, but connecting the wheels to the vehicle structure via pivot joints ''to the rear'' of them. These are typically used on the front axle or wheels, as on the [[Citroën 2CV]] and its derivatives, and on the [[Citroën DS]], as well as on the [[M422 Mighty Mite]] jeep.

== Types ==
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical 
| width     = 200 
| image1    = Axle - Trailing arm 42.gif
| caption1  = Trailing arm rear suspension of [[Front-engine, front-wheel drive layout|FF]] cars
| image2    = Axle - Trailing arm 41.gif
| caption2  = Rear suspension of [[Renault 4]] and [[Renault 5]]
| image3    = Axle - Semi trailing-arm 23.gif
| caption3  = Semi-trailing arm suspension|Semi-trailing arm suspension
}}

=== Trailing-arm ===
Trailing-arm designs in [[live axle]] setups often use just two or three links and a [[Panhard rod]] to locate the wheel laterally. A trailing arm design can also be used in an [[independent suspension]] arrangement. Each [[wheel]] hub is located only by a large, roughly triangular arm that [[Lever|pivots]] at one point, ahead of the wheel. Seen from the side, this arm is roughly parallel to the ground, with the angle changing based on road irregularities. A [[twist-beam rear suspension]] is very similar except that the arms are connected by a beam, used to locate the wheels and which twists and has an anti-roll effect.

Some aircraft also use trailing arms in their [[landing gear]], with [[oleo strut]]s for shock absorption. A trailing arm landing gear results in smoother landings and a better ride when [[taxiing]] compared to other types of landing gear.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Cook |first=Mark E |date=November 2004 |title=Revere the Gear: Good landings are more than ego-boosters; they're kind to your airplane's landing gear |url=http://flighttraining.aopa.org/magazine/2004/November/200411_Features_Revere_the_gear.html |journal=Flight Training |location=Frederick, Maryland |publisher=[[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association]] |access-date=19 February 2014 }}</ref>

=== Semi-trailing arm  ===
A semi-trailing arm suspension is a supple [[independent rear suspension]] system for [[automobile]]s where each [[wheel]] hub is located only by a large, roughly triangular arm that pivots at two points. Viewed from the top, the line formed by the two pivots is somewhere between [[parallel (geometry)|parallel]] and [[perpendicular]] to the car's longitudinal axis; it is generally parallel to the ground. Trailing-arm and [[multilink suspension]] designs are much more commonly used for the rear wheels of a vehicle where they can allow for a flatter floor and more cargo room.  Many small, [[front-wheel drive]] vehicles feature a [[MacPherson strut]] front suspension and trailing-arm rear axle.

== See also==
*[[List of auto parts]]
*[[Swingarm]] – the predominant type of motorcycle rear suspension, which is basically a trailing arm
*[[Weissach axle]] – a variant of semi-trailing arm suspension

== References ==
{{Commons category|Trailing-arm suspension}}
{{reflist}}

{{Automotive handling}}
{{Powertrain}}
{{Chassis control systems}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trailing Arm}}
[[Category:Automotive suspension technologies]]
[[Category:Aircraft components]]