History of the C10 suspension

[Swar]

I'm sure there is a thread buried somewhere in here, but who knows about the rear trailing arm design? Who designed it, when and why? It is such a unique thing, how the arms are angled into the center of the truck.
My dad, who is notorious for over analyzing everything, is always perplexed by the design. But he got me thinking about it. The rear end will slightly shift side to side, but it moves like a pendulum.
Maybe this actually helps handle turns, by shifting the wheel on the outside of the turn back ever so slightly, and the inside wheel forward.
And for launching, the force from the wheels moves through the trailing arms to the center of the truck to push it, maybe another advantage over leaf springs.

[dfwright]

I'm interested to see the responses to this one myself. I don't have much to add, other than this bit from the 1972 trucks flyer --

[Alex V.]

Hmmm - never thought about those merits, but it's worth considering. I just know it rides gooood.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by dfwright

I'm interested to see the responses to this one myself. I don't have much to add, other than this bit from the 1972 trucks flyer --

Wonder why the brochure talks about the rear end, but illustrates a front end with steering linkage?

[dfwright]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Wonder why the brochure talks about the rear end, but illustrates a front end with steering linkage?

Oh, I just cut out a small part of a big picture.

[factorystock]

Don't know who designed it, but, more of why it was designed, a smoother ride. First appeared on 1960 2wd 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups, but 1 tons continued to use leaf springs for heavier duty work. The coil system you see on 67-72 Chevy pickups is basically the same system that was introduced in '63 ( see photo ).

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by dfwright

Oh, I just cut out a small part of a big picture.

OK. I thought it was a result of a Three Martini Lunch corporate culture in the Ad Dept...

[sprint_9]

I think Nascar uses the same basic design, if I'm not mistaken I think some people have even used some Nascar style trailing arms on a C10

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by sprint_9

I think Nascar uses the same basic design, if I'm not mistaken I think some people have even used some Nascar style trailing arms on a C10

Yeah - it's my understanding that NASCAR has used the trailing arm rear suspension for quite some time. I also remember seeing a kit that would let you put them under your Chevelle too.