How is the truck tire swayed?

Swaying in truck tires can be caused by a wide range of problems. This can include regular wear and tear, uneven air pressure, and impaired balance as some of the common causes. While issues with the tires and wheels are the common underlying causes, other factors can also cause swaying. Find out the different factors and causes that may be causing your truck to sway.

Swaying Due to Tires or Wheels

Some of the common tire and wheel-related issues that can cause your truck to swayare as follows:

Wheel Alignment

An alignment problem is a common cause of the vehicle pulling to the left or right. The tires may have excessive wear. Once this occurs, the steering wheel can also get into the wrong position. This is because the wheels become straight and thus force the steering wheel to get into the wrong center.

The wheel alignment camber affects your truck’s steering and stability when in motion. It should be set properly, else the truck can be driven off a straight line.

Uneven Wear on the Tires

If your truck behaves in the following ways, it is a sign of uneven wear on the tread:

• The truck always pulls in the same direction
• The pull increases with the increase in speed

It is important to keep the tread depth limit in mind. The pattern must be even across all areas of a wheel and there should be no strains and strips.Turn the tires slowly to check the tread and identify the problem.

Low Air Pressure

Uneven air pressure in the tires is also a common cause of sway. When one tire has low air pressure, the truck will pull to that side. If you are experiencing tire sway recently, this may be the underlying cause. The tire pressure should be regularly checked and maintained.

Additional Factors

Apart from the tire problems mentioned above, there are many more factors that can cause your truck to sway. This includes the following factors:

Faulty Suspension

The shock absorbers may have been damaged and are in need of repair or replacement. The sway can also cause the truck to become unstable at speeds. Some of the common causes of shock absorber damage include:

• Long service life
• Broken baffle that causes excess load
• Hitting pits at high speeds
• Delayed replacement of support bearing

Hub Bearing

Hub bearing is most often damaged by environmental conditions. Dirt and moisture are the most common factors here. Depending on your truck, the complete hub may need to be replaced to fix this problem.

Ball Sockets

Failed ball sockets and steering rod end could also be the underlying cause for your truck’s sway. This can also cause the truck to become unstable at speeds. Some of the common reasons ball sockets fail are as follows:

• Inadequate lubrication
• Hinge contamination
• Duster rupture

Damaged Silentblock

Even when a single silent block gets damaged, it can cause your truck to sway. These components are typically equipped with:

• Stabilizer stands
• Levers
• Beam
• Underframe

The number of silentblocks in your truck will depend on the type of suspension. Damage to the rubber component is a common cause of silentblock breakdown.

If you experience tire sway when towing a trailer, some of the common causes of sway are as follows:

• Improper weight distribution
• No sway control
• Improper hitch adjustments
• Overload conditions
• Trailer design

If you are unable to identify the cause yourself, it is best to get the help of licensed and experienced truck repairs and maintenance service provider. The right specialists can quickly identify the cause and help fix it. This is also a smarter and safer way to deal with this issue.