Parts for your 2013 Ford Transit-Control arms

2013 Ford Transit control arms — what they do and when to replace

Technical confirmation: The 2013 Ford Transit (Mk7, V347/V348) uses front lower control arms on both front‑wheel‑drive and rear‑wheel‑drive variants. This is documented in the Ford Workshop Manual for 2006–2014 Transit models, Ford ETIS/Service Information, and the Ford Microcat/FINIS parts catalogue, which all list complete front lower arm assemblies with bushes and ball joints for the 2013 Transit.

On this Transit, the control arms form the backbone of the front suspension. Each arm links the chassis subframe to the steering knuckle via a ball joint, with rubber bushes at the chassis end. They hold the hub in the right spot through bumps and braking, keeping camber and caster stable so the van tracks straight, steers predictably, and wears tyres evenly. The bushes soak up vibration and road harshness, while the ball joint lets the hub steer and move up and down without binding.

When control arms or their bushes wear, the van tells on itself: clunks over speed humps, looseness in the steering, a shimmy under braking, wandering at highway speeds, or inner/outer shoulder tyre wear. Visual checks may show split bushes, torn ball joint boots, or shiny witness marks where things have been moving around.

Service advice for a 2013 Transit:

• Inspect the arms, bushes, and ball joints at every service or 20,000 km—sooner if the van tows, carries heavy loads, or cops rough roads.
• Replace arms in pairs (left and right) to keep handling balanced. Many workshops fit complete arms because new bushes and a fresh ball joint restore the lot in one go.
• Always do a wheel alignment afterwards. New bushes change camber and toe, and a proper set‑up protects tyres and steering feel.
• Tighten the arm bolts at normal ride height so the bushes aren’t pre‑twisted. Where specified by Ford, use new stretch (torque‑to‑yield) bolts.
• While in there, check sway bar links, strut mounts, and tie‑rod ends—they often wear together.

There’s no fixed replacement interval—life varies from 80,000 to 150,000+ kilometres depending on payloads, roads, and how often the van bumps kerbs. Smooth driving, correct tyre pressures, and staying on top of alignments will keep the control arms happy for longer.

Does a 2013 Ford Transit have control arms?

Yes. Both FWD and RWD 2013 Transit variants run front lower control arms with rubber bushes and a lower ball joint, as shown in Ford workshop and parts information.

Do I need a wheel alignment after replacing control arms on a 2013 Transit?

Absolutely. Fresh bushes and arms shift camber and toe. An alignment protects tyres, improves steering feel, and makes the van track straight.

Can I replace just the bushes or ball joint, or do I need the whole arm?

Most bushes can be pressed in with the right tools, but many techs fit complete arms because it’s quicker and refreshes the ball joint too. Some ball joints are supplied with the arm or staked, check the parts listing against the VIN.