For front-wheel drive cars, rear suspension has few constraints and a variety of beam axles and independent suspensions are used.
For rear-wheel drive cars, rear suspension has many constraints and the march to the superior but more expensive independent suspension layout has been a long slog. The dynamics of such a vehicle are that the rear suspension must counteract by the tendency of the rolling wheel traveling in the opposite direction from the vehicle. This must be countered by the rear suspension taking up a counter-clockwise torque; otherwise, the body and frame of the car will strip itself off the rear suspension, whatever it is. It is that need which dominates several of the varieties of rear suspension.
Read more about Rear Suspension: History
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