Radius rod

The link is connected (with a rubber or solid bushing) on one end to the wheel carrier or axle, on the other to the chassis or unibody of the vehicle.

Radius rods in aircraft must be regularly inspected because their failure will cause unrestrained swerving of the wheel.

Radius rods are customarily made of stamped steel or aluminum for lightness, as they are part of the vehicle's unsprung weight.

Improvements in composite materials technology make possible plastic suspension links, although they are still uncommon.

For example, the rear suspension of the original 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado used shock absorbers to connect the rear beam axle to the frame; these shocks controlled longitudinal wheel movement, but their damping action prevented the forces of those movements from being felt by the passengers.