No, I suppose the sway bar can be ignored for the conceptualization, the only thing is cars have 4-wheels and they all affect each other. If you want to simplif

No, I suppose the sway bar can be ignored for the conceptualization, the only thing is cars have 4-wheels and they all affect each other. If you want to simplify it, you gotta invent a 2-wheeled conveyance. The shocks and sway do a lot of work. If that satisfies you, don't read the rest:) Some vehicles don't have swaybars, or instead they might have a "solid rear" rear subframe to which both knuckles are attached, and moves as one large unit. They always have shock absorbers though. I'll just keep considering only the rear axle here. I can tell you are away of, but do note, that even without a trailing arm configuration but something else, the wheels will still always want to go back and towards the centerline of the vehicle during braking. The suspension geometry will determine how this is controlled, usually the move is to go down. I've never seen one that goes up unless something is broken, usually the shocks. People normally call this excessive movement "nose dive". It happens because a functional shock absorber momentarily control the climb, allowing the suspension to control the wheel characteristics. Without it, the forces will yank the wheel out of configuration. In most vehicles, without the sway bar controlling both sides of the suspension, or the shock absorber damping, you will experience many varieties of reduced braking and handling performance unless both wheels on the axle are reacting in exactly the same way, which is very unlikely. If the spring is undamped, aside from the "nose dive", it will start to oscillate in an uncontrolled manner during braking, causing hopping. This will cause the wheels to both not brake well and also lock up. This will still affect the solid rear, causing wonky camber. If one wheel locks up, the ABS will kick in. This is normally fine, and increases performance in all categories, but only if the wheels are in contact with the ground and exhibiting correct camber. If they aren't and are instead hopping because of the undamped spring, the ABS won't be able to control much, it will in fact suck. If the sway bar is absent/broken/ the linkage or bushings damaged, and one wheel has different handling or braking performance than the other wheel on the axle, (such as in all the time or during hopping or ABS engagement) the ride height will change as the wheel reacts along the second circle, causing body roll which will alter camber and other factors on every other wheel, especially the opposing wheel, which will experience much worse performance in every category. All this stuff will show up on the tire. You can often tell whats wrong just by glancing at the tire tread.