Is a wishbone/lower control arm the same thing?

[kramer81]

From what Ive read some people seem to use the terms interchangeably

[dougielogan]

different, some cars use a wishbone which is a three point fixing and others use two arms that have four point fixings.

[tomtech]

generally speaking a wishbone is in fact , shaped quite like a wishbone. ie a triangular shaped affair with two fixing points on the chassis and one fixing point on the lower section of the leg/ hub assembly. a track control arm is very similar but is only fixed at one point on the chassis and one point at the lower end of the leg/ hub assembly.ie. anglia,cortina, corsair, many more.. when ordering parts i just ask for the lower arm, its really just a technicality. but somebody is bound to disagree, ive only been in the motor trade for about 38 yrs, so i probably aint got a clue.

[kramer81]

so does a car have one thing or the other?

[tomtech]

yes , a car does have one or the other, if you wouldlike to specify your vehicle, make ,model, etc, i will tell you what your particular vehicle has fitted , or are you just on a wind up?

[kramer81]

why would I be on a wind up?

Its a 98 Fiesta 1.3. I just wondered when mechanics are talking to me about wishbones they mean control arms or something else.

Thanks for the info.

[__LEE__]

your lower suspension arm is the wishbone type