04
2026
-
05
Don't Panic If Your Truck Brake Pulls to One Side, Remember These Simple Tips
"
Braking deviation is a very common vehicle fault. Many truck drivers pay a lot of attention to it at first, but sometimes the problem reappears after repairs. Repeated maintenance, combined with the fact that the deviation may not be severe, can lead to fatigue in maintaining the vehicle, ultimately causing accidents. Many truck drivers probably have real-life cases of accidents caused by braking deviation around them.
▎ Four major causes of the fault: the main issue lies in torque
There are mainly four causes of brake deviation. The first is a large difference in tire pressure between the two sides, causing an imbalance between the left and right sides of the vehicle, and the difference in friction leads to brake deviation.
The second reason may be that the wear on the left and right tires is inconsistent, causing a significant difference in friction, which leads to braking deviation.
The third reason is that for models without a brake-free play automatic adjustment arm, the difference in brake clearance between the left and right wheels is too large, causing the braking time to be different from the start. Different response times will lead to braking deviation.
The fourth reason is vehicle deviation caused by different braking torques. Significant differences in braking torque are mainly caused by differences in brake air pressure, varying degrees of wear on the brake pads, or oil contamination on the brake shoes or brake discs (for disc brake vehicles).
▎ Increased risk of scraping and skidding – brake deviation is terrifying
After explaining the possible factors that cause brake deviation, let's talk about the potential dangers it can bring. Here, I want to share a true case that happened to someone I know personally.
At that time, he was driving a 9.6-meter three-axle small cargo truck. After unloading in Pingliang, Gansu, he was returning empty to Tianshui, Gansu, in a hurry to pick up cargo. He was driving a bit fast because at that time there was no highway from Tianshui to Pingliang, only a national road. When he needed to slow down for a curve, he braked hard, and the front wheel experienced brake deviation. The truck started sliding, then lost control and crashed into a mountain. Luckily, there were no other vehicles at the time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Ultimately, the cab was dented, the front tire burst and got stuck in a drainage ditch, and repairing the truck cost a lot of money. Including lost work time, the total loss was at least 30,000 to 40,000 yuan.
In most cases, when brakes pull to one side, people just simply adjust the brake clearance and keep testing, without doing a thorough inspection. Only when an accident happens, or the vehicle fails inspection, do they think about repairing it. It would be better to check and repair early to ensure safety is more important.
▎How to maintain and repair: Remember a few little tips
First, when inflating the tires, pay attention to pressure balance. Generally, the tire pressure of our trucks is between 12-13 psi. If there is brake deviation, check whether any tire is losing air slowly, leading to insufficient pressure, and it needs timely repair or inflation.
After a truck has been in operation for a period of time, the tire wear should be checked. Truck drivers, in order to save money, often use tires to their fullest extent. Sometimes they continue to use tires even when the treads have worn down. At this point, the tires need to be adjusted to make the wear on the left and right sides as even as possible, so that braking is balanced. For example, if the rear tires are more worn, the front tires can be moved to the rear position (if the front and rear tires are the same size) to balance the friction on both sides as much as possible.
Driving a vehicle without automatic brake clearance adjustment arms, adjusting the brake clearance is a routine operation for us truck drivers. If our brake response times differ, it is necessary to adjust the brake clearance. By adjusting the brake clearance, the brake response times can be balanced, ensuring overall braking force balance. If repeatedly adjusting the brake clearance still does not effectively alleviate this symptom, it is necessary to promptly go to a service station or repair shop for inspection, checking whether the entire braking system is contaminated with oil, whether there is a fault in the brake air circuit, or whether the brake friction pads are excessively worn and uneven, and so on.
● Editor's Note
Brake deviation issues are neither too big nor too small. If nothing happens, it might just give you a scare, but once an accident occurs, it is very likely to cause vehicle loss of control, resulting in incalculable damage. Therefore, as long as the vehicle shows any abnormality that affects safety or normal use, it should be checked and repaired immediately. Never delay! What started as a minor problem could eventually turn into a “cancer”!
Previous Page
Previous Page
Focus on the research and development of automotive brake systems and pneumatic brake valves to promote the development of the auto parts industry!
Contact Information
Telephone:86-575-87438928
Mobile:8613252110178
QQ：1185450863@qq.com
Address: No. 461, Advanced Village, Fengqiao Town, Zhuji, Zhejiang Province
Online message
Submit your information and we will contact you as soon as possible.