Why Your Wheelchair Pulls to One Side (and How to Correct It)

You push forward, and the chair slowly bends left or right. You correct it, and a few metres later it drifts again. Every correction costs effort, and it adds up over a day. A wheelchair that pulls to one side usually has a simple cause, but it is not always the chair. Sloping pavements and uneven loads do it too. 

This guide shows how to tell the difference with one quick test. It then covers the common faults in order, from the easy checks to the ones that need a repairer.

Cause 1: Uneven tyre pressure or wear

Air-filled tyres that differ in pressure roll differently. The softer tyre has more drag, so the chair pulls towards that side. Check both rear tyres against the figure on the sidewall. A worn or damaged tyre on one side can do the same. If your chair has solid tyres, look for flat spots, cracks or different wear. For replacements, see wheels and tyres, and check the size against your manual.

Cause 2: A stiff or clogged castor

This is the commonest cause of a chair that veers. Hair, thread and grit wrap around the castor axle. Water can rust a bearing. One castor then spins less freely than the other and acts like a light brake on that side.

With the chair empty and tipped back safely, spin each castor by hand. Both should turn freely and for about the same length of time. If one stops much sooner, pull out any hair with a pair of tweezers, then clean it. If it is still stiff after cleaning, the bearing may need replacing. Also check the fork, the part that holds the castor, by turning it left and right. It should move with equal ease on both sides.

Cause 3: Castors that are crooked or not touching the floor

Castors need to stand upright. Their housings should be square to the ground. If one is tilted, it can swing the chair off line. Another sign is a castor that floats just above the floor when the chair is empty. This is often called float. The chair then rolls on three points of contact, and it will wobble and veer.

Check on a flat floor. Does each castor touch down? Do the forks look upright from the side? Some chairs let you change the fork angle. Others don't. Check your manual first. If adjusting is allowed, loosen one bolt at a time, move the fork a little, then retighten. Don't remove the bolts completely. Changing the seat angle can alter castor angle too, so recheck after any seat adjustment.

Cause 4: A brake that drags

A wheel lock set too close, or an attendant brake that doesn't fully release, rubs on one tyre. That side slows down, so the chair turns towards it. Release the brakes and spin each rear wheel. Listen for a scrape. If the lock touches, loosen its clamp and move it slightly away. A tight attendant brake cable needs adjusting by a technician.

Cause 5: A loose axle or a wheel not fully seated

Rear wheels should sit tight on their axles. Hold each wheel and try to move it sideways. There should be almost no play. A quick-release axle that hasn't clicked in properly can let the wheel angle outwards. Wheels taken off for the car boot are the most likely to be refitted slightly wrong, so refit and check again.

Cause 6: Rear wheels that are not parallel

The rear wheels should point straight ahead, side by side. If they are angled, one pair of edges toes in or toes out, like a car with bad tracking. This is called toe misalignment. It makes both wheels scrub against the floor. It also makes the chair harder to push.

Lab testing found that one degree of misalignment raised rolling resistance by about 25%, and two degrees nearly doubled it. In a study of 200 active manual wheelchair users in the United States, 61% of chairs had more than half a degree of misalignment. The study mostly involved sports-type chairs, so UK everyday chairs may differ. It does show the fault is common.

A rough home check is to measure the distance between the two rear tyres at the front and at the back, at the same height as the axle. If the figures differ by more than a few millimetres, something is out. In that study, a difference of about 9 mm was roughly 0.9 degrees. Causes include a camber tube that has rotated, loose axle fittings, a seat change, or a frame that has been knocked. Fixing this often needs the right tools and care, so it is a job for a repairer or the supplier.

Cause 7: A bent or twisted frame

A fall, a heavy kerb drop or a squeeze into a car boot can bend a castor housing or twist the frame. Signs are a chair that never tracks straight whatever you adjust, or a castor that won't sit square. Don't try to bend it back. A bent part needs replacing, and a twisted frame may mean the chair is no longer safe.

Cause 8: Uneven weight, posture or push

Sometimes the chair is fine and the load is uneven. Check for:

• A bag, coat or shopping hanging from one handle.

• A cushion that has worn or slipped to one side, or footplates at different heights.

• The user leaning or sitting slightly crooked.

• One arm being stronger than the other, or one-sided weakness.

That last one isn't a fault in the chair. If the pull started with a change in your health or posture, speak to an occupational therapist or your wheelchair service. They can look at seating and set-up.

How to correct it safely

Work through the causes in this order, from easiest to hardest, and test after each change:

1. Equalise tyre pressure.

2. Clean and spin both castors.

3. Check the brakes for rubbing.

4. Check axles and wheels for play.

5. Check castor angle and float.

6. Check rear-wheel alignment, and call for help if it is out.

Change one thing at a time, so you know what worked. Mark the starting position of any part you move. Work with the chair empty and a helper holding it. One video guide describes about two hours and around ten adjustments to correct a pull by changing castor tilt, and its maker warned others to think twice before trying it. It is fine to stop and ask for help. If a castor or other part needs replacing, check wheelchair accessories and confirm the part with the seller first.

NHS chair or bought privately?

If your chair came from an NHS wheelchair service, the service usually owns it. As of October 2026, many services provide free repairs through an approved repairer, and some ask users not to alter or repair the chair themselves. Check your loan paperwork or phone the service before touching alignment. If you bought privately, contact the seller. If the chair is old and several parts are worn or bent, it may be time to compare newer models. You can browse manual wheelchairs to see what is available.

When to stop and get help

Get the chair checked if:

• It still pulls after the tyre, castor and brake checks.

• A castor won't spin freely even when clean.

• You find a bent castor housing, a crack or a twisted frame.

• The rear wheels are clearly out of line.

• A bolt keeps loosening or a thread is stripped.

Until it is sorted, avoid slopes and busy roads.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my wheelchair pull to the left or right?

The usual causes are uneven tyre pressure, a stiff or hair-clogged castor, a castor that isn't upright, a dragging brake, or rear wheels that are out of line. A sloping pavement can also pull any chair downhill. Do the one-push test in both directions to see which it is.

How do I check whether my wheelchair castors are the problem?

With the chair empty, spin each castor by hand. They should turn freely and for a similar time. Clean off any hair or thread. Then check on a flat floor that both castors touch down and that the forks stand upright.

Can low tyre pressure make a wheelchair veer?

Yes. A softer tyre has more drag, so the chair tends to pull towards that side. Both rear tyres should match the pressure printed on the sidewall. It is a quick check, so do it first.

Can I fix wheel alignment on my own?

You can check for obvious problems, such as loose axles or a poorly seated wheel. True alignment adjustment needs care and sometimes specific tools. If you aren't sure, ask the supplier or a repairer. If the chair is from the NHS, ask your wheelchair service first.

Why does my wheelchair pull towards the road on the pavement?

Most pavements slope slightly towards the road, and dropped kerbs add steeper sections. A wheelchair tends to turn downhill because the castors follow the slope. Try to stay on the flatter, higher part of the path, and slow down where the slope is steeper.