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Ford F-150 F-250: Why Does My Truck Pull One Direction?

Follow these simple steps to correct your Ford truck from pulling one direction, and you'll soon be driving straight.

By Tom Cavanagh - September 15, 2014

This article applies to the Ford F-150 (2004 to 2014) and F-250, F-350 Super Duty (2005-2014).

You know the feeling. You are driving your Ford F-150 or Super Duty and you can feel your truck pulling you one direction or the other. Why isn't your truck driving straight? It could be a tire problem or it could be a suspension problem. Regardless, it's always best to try the simple fix first. And the simple fix involves checking your air pressure.

Materials Needed

  • Spare-Tire Jack
  • Tire Iron
  • Tire Pressure Gauge

Step 1 - "Check front tire pressures"

Is the air pressure in both front tires the same? If not, your vehicle will pull toward the "softer" tire.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Step 2 - "Check size and model"

Are both front tires exactly the same size and brand? Front tires from different manufacturers have different road holding abilities. This could cause your vehicle to pull. If the tires are of different sizes, your vehicle will definitely pull. Imagine yourself wearing shoes of different sizes or types.

Mismatched Tires

Step 3 - "Shake, rattle, and roll"

If everything in Step Two checks out, you need to take a closer look. Use a floor jack to lift the front wheels to be off the ground. Grab the tire and push it up and down, in and out. If it feels loose, this could be a ball joint problem. While holding the tire on the left and right sides, rock the tire back and forth. Too much movement here could signal a tie rod problem. Spin each front tire. If it doesn't rotate freely, there may be a brake caliper problem. If everything checks out, go to Step Four.

F150 on jack stands

Step 4 - "Find the culprit"

There may be a defective tire on the vehicle. For this example, assume that the car pulls to the right.

  • Rotate the two front tires. If the vehicle now pulls to the left, the defective tire is one of the front tires.
  • Rotate the front and rear tires on the left side. If the pull disappears or is greatly reduced, the tire now on the left rear wheel is defective. If the pull is still there, the right front tire is the culprit.

Other Possible Causes

If your vehicle still pulls on direction but your tires are fine, then you have a suspension or steering issue. You might just need an alignment. If your front suspension is making noise AND pulling, there's a strong chance that you have suspension components that are worn out.

Featured Video:

Fixing a Car that Pulls to One Side

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