Keeping your hands on the wheel should drive your truck straight. However, some drivers may notice that their vehicle veers a certain way, making it more difficult to keep the truck straight.
If you notice that your truck pulls to the right, you may be wondering what causes it. We looked up the facts, and here is what we learned about the matter!
Why Does My Truck Pull To The Right?
1. Air Pressure
A common reason your truck pulls to the right is that your tires have uneven air pressure.
For example, if you have one tire with low tire pressure, it will be at a different height than the rest of your tires and shift the wheel alignment.
Therefore, if one or several tires are under-inflated, your truck will be more likely to roll and cause your truck to pull in a specific direction.
While your truck can pull to the right if any tire lacks air pressure, the underinflated tire will likely be from one of your rear tires.
2. Tire Separation And Conicity
Tire conicity could be a cause of why your truck pulls to the right, and tire conicity refers to a tire’s capability of rolling like a cone.
Generally, rolling like a cone can affect how your truck turns, and conicity is often found in newly installed car tires.
Normally, after the tires are first rotated, a factory defect could make the tires inflate like a cone.
When this occurs, the belts will not be properly aligned under the treat in tires with the conicity.
Additionally, tire separation could make your truck pull to the right because air will force the belts to get separated from the wheel’s carcass.
3. Tire Rotation
Most truck drivers will notice their truck pulls in a certain direction after they get their tires rotated.
That said, a tire rotation is when the tires get moved into a new position to balance the treat and wear of the tires.
However, rotating tires could make your truck veer to one side for various reasons, such as using a tire that used to be in the back in the front.
Occasionally, you can “drive off” the pull once the wear on the tires even out, or you can have your tires rotated again.
4. Tread Design
Tire wear and tread design are common reasons your truck can veer to the right. Generally, each brand of tires will have a unique tread design that features specific role attributes.
As such, these attributes can affect how the tires roll, so different tires can feel different depending on the brand you get.
Further, this will be an issue if you get a new tire from a brand different from your current set of tires.
Ideally, you should replace your tires in pairs to prevent your truck from veering to one side due to a different tread design.
5. Brake Issues
If you notice that your truck pulls to the right whenever you use your brakes, your brakes are likely the cause of your problem.
With that, while various parts of the brake system could be the source of the issue, a sticky brake caliper is a common culprit.
Usually, your brake pad will keep touching the rotors even after you release the brake pedal if your brake caliper sticks.
Also, if your brake pad keeps dragging the rotor on a single side of the truck, your truck will drift, and you will feel a shift in the steering wheel.
Additionally, you will know that your brake system causes your veering truck if you smell something burning.
6. Suspension Problems
If the components of your suspension are worn-out, they will move whenever you use your brakes.
For instance, your truck will quickly veer in one direction if you have a fatigued lower control arm bushing that will make the arms shift once you brake.
Also, another good way to know that your suspension is the cause is when your steering wheel sharply turns while you slow down and use your brakes.
7. Memory Steer
If your truck pulls to the right but occasionally pulls to the left, you may be dealing with memory steer where your wheel follows the same direction as your previous “hard” turn.
Normally, memory steer occurs when the strut mount bearings are fatigued and binding, causing the power steering rack to be unbalanced.
8. Torque Steer
If your truck has a front-wheel drive, torque steer could be your problem if your truck pulls to one side whenever you accelerate hard.
Typically, torque steer occurs when the tire pressure is uneven between two tires, keeping the tires from gripping evenly.
9. Bad Wheel Bearings
If you have bad wheel bearings, you will likely have other signs of it before your truck veers to the right, such as uneven wire tear.
With that, you will also feel your steering wheel vibrate or shake and hear grinding sounds from the tires.
Usually, it is recommended that you see a mechanic have your wheel bearings replaced immediately since it is dangerous to drive with faulty wheel bearings.
To know more, you can also read our posts on why your truck is blowing white smoke, why your truck shakes at high speeds, and why your truck shakes when you brake.
Conclusion
Usually, trucks pull to the right due to an issue with the tires, such as tread design, tire rotation, bad wheel bearings, and more.
However, internal components of your truck, such as the suspension and brake system, can make your truck veer to the right.