A hydraulic cylinder assembly, a sensor assembly for a cylinder assembly and methods of assembling and operating a cylinder assembly. The cylinder assembly may include a housing; a ram slidably mounted in the housing; and a sensor assembly mounted between the housing and the ram and operable to sense a side load. The sensor assembly may be incorporated into a bearing. In some constructions, the sensor assembly may include a capacitive sensor. In some constructions, the sensor assembly may include a piezoelectric sensor.