2017 Ford Transit Wheel Alignment Specifications

Quick Reference: 2017 Ford Transit Alignment Specs

Note: These values are for a stock 2017 Ford Transit 150/250/350. Lift kits, lowering springs, and suspension modifications will alter these specs.

Adjustability

Not all alignment angles are created equal, especially when it comes to factory adjustability. On the 2017 Ford Transit, adjustability is quite limited from the factory.

• Front Axle: The only directly adjustable angle is Front Toe. This is adjusted by loosening the jam nuts on the outer tie rod ends and rotating the inner tie rod to lengthen or shorten the assembly. There is no factory provision for adjusting camber or caster. If your Transit's front camber or caster is out of spec, it often points to bent or worn components like a strut, knuckle, or subframe damage. To correct for minor deviations, aftermarket solutions are required.

• Rear Axle: The rear axle on a 2017 Transit is a solid beam, meaning there are no factory adjustments for rear camber or toe. The specs are set by the factory during assembly. If rear camber or toe are out of range, it indicates a bent axle housing, a damaged hub/bearing assembly, or bent leaf spring mounts. The Thrust Angle, which measures the direction the rear axle is pointing relative to the vehicle's centerline, is also non-adjustable. A bad thrust angle on a solid axle vehicle is a serious issue, typically caused by a bent frame or damaged spring perches, and must be addressed by a frame and collision specialist.

Recommended Adjustment Hardware

Since front camber and caster are not adjustable from the factory, technicians must often turn to the aftermarket to bring a vehicle back into specification, especially after minor impacts or to compensate for suspension sag over time.

For the 2017 Ford Transit, the most common method for achieving front camber and caster adjustment is by installing an aftermarket eccentric bolt kit in the strut-to-knuckle mounting points. Companies like SPC (Specialty Products Company) and Moog offer these kits (e.g., SPC #87360). These bolts feature a cam lobe that, when rotated, shifts the position of the steering knuckle relative to the strut, allowing for small but crucial changes to the camber and caster angles. This is a far more cost-effective solution than replacing entire suspension components to correct a minor alignment deviation.

Symptoms of Bad Alignment

Your Transit will give you warning signs when its alignment is off. Paying attention to these symptoms can save you hundreds of dollars in premature tire wear.

• Steering Wheel Off-Center: When driving straight on a level road, your steering wheel should be perfectly centered. If it's tilted to the left or right, it's a classic sign of an incorrect toe setting.
• Vehicle Pulling or Drifting: The vehicle actively pulls to one side, forcing you to apply constant steering pressure to keep it straight. This is most often caused by a significant difference in camber or caster from side to side.
• Feathered Tire Wear: This occurs when the tread blocks are worn unevenly, feeling smooth on one edge and sharp on the other when you run your hand across them. This is a tell-tale sign of incorrect toe settings.
• Camber Wear: The inside or outside edge of the tire wears down much faster than the rest of the tread. Excessive negative camber (top of the tire tilted inward) wears the inside edge, while excessive positive camber (top of the tire tilted outward) wears the outside edge.
• "Dog Tracking": This is when the vehicle appears to be driving sideways down the road, with the rear wheels not following directly behind the front wheels. This is caused by a significant Thrust Angle problem on the rear axle.

When to Get an Alignment

Preventative maintenance is key. We recommend an alignment check under the following circumstances:

• After Installing New Tires: To protect your investment and ensure even wear from day one.
• After Suspension or Steering Part Replacement: Any time a component like a strut, ball joint, tie rod end, or control arm is replaced, the alignment will be affected.
• After a significant impact: Hitting a large pothole, a curb, or road debris with force can easily knock your alignment out of spec.
• Every 1-2 Years: As a part of regular maintenance, especially on a heavy-duty vehicle like the Transit that sees a lot of miles and varied loads.

Typical Alignment Cost

The cost for a four-wheel alignment on a 2017 Ford Transit typically ranges from $120 to $200. The price can vary based on your geographic location and the type of shop. Keep in mind, this price is for the alignment service itself. If your vehicle requires an adjustment kit (like the camber/caster bolts mentioned above) to bring it back into spec, there will be an additional cost for parts and labor to install them.

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