Thread: need help identify this broken part on 73 grand prix

Ok so I was being stupid by holding down my brakes and smoking my rear tires on my 1973 grand prix, and after when I drove the car was swaying back and forth so I looked and behind my right rear tire i can see a piece snapped off the frame.
A was told by this old guy who lives next door to my brothers where i parked the car that it is a rear control arm but when I google it I cant find a control that looks like this piece that broke.

can someone tell me what the name of this part is please

yeah, that bar holds the read end in place. coil spring suspension issue. the rust got ya. be best to replace both of em.

pretty sure ladder bars, what you use for a coil sprung rear replaces the stock traction bars they help eliminate that dreaded wheel hop. like what snapped your the rest of the way lol

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lakewood-204...BSsexy&vxp=mtr

you can see them here in this pic of my brothers 72 chevelle

Originally Posted by IBmikmaq

Ok so I was being stupid hold my brake down and smoking my rear tires on my 1973 grand prix

Disagree. Smoking your tires is neither stupid or smart but it will always be fun.

Can't wait to own a RWD vehicle with enough power to do a proper brake stand again!

That's a rear lower control arm, it's a four-link suspension. Could also be called a trailing arm and that would be correct too. You can fabricate your own or possibly locate performance oriented aftermarket, but both of those are kinda silly when you just need a replacement or repair. The cars handle well enough to make most folks crap pants stock. Forget the talk of traction devices. There is no stock traction device other than a rear sway bar. Ladder bars can be added to these suspensions to limit axle travel upon launch but they add a great deal of unsprung weight and suck for street use. I have a pair rotting in my shed. Fix what you got or buy one of those control arm packages from the performance aftermarket, if available for a 73-77. My 69 rocks at burnouts and has an el Camino 12 bolt positrac. Yours has highway gears and a 10 bolt if it's stock, whether it's limited slip or pegleg.