A wobbling steering wheel might be annoying when you’re driving. However, it can also be a helpful tool for finding auto-related issues.
How come the steering wheel vibrates, though? Warped discs that produce shaking when braking or unbalanced tires that induce shaking at high speeds are some of the most frequent causes.
Of course, shaking through the steering system can indicate more significant issues with your car.
What warning signals should you pay particular attention to, and how can you recognize the signs that the vehicle needs to be inspected?
What causes my steering wheel to tremble?
Here are some causes of steering wheel trembling and solutions. Even on less-than-ideal road surfaces, modern vehicles are made to drive smoothly.
While minor road vibrations may be expected, if your steering wheel is trembling, there is a problem.
A shaken steering wheel may have several causes. The timing of the shaking is crucial for the diagnosis of the issue:
- In slow-moving traffic
- Medium to fast tempo
- When accelerating, decelerating, or turning
- A mix of these activities.
It’s time to take your vehicle to the experts if the vibration persists or worsens under the same conditions.
The most frequent reasons for a shaky steering wheel are unbalanced tires, warped brake rotors, and worn or broken suspension system components.
Why vibrates the steering wheel?
When I accelerate, does the steering wheel begin to vibrate? At 120 km/h, does the steering wheel vibrate?
The steering wheel tilts to the side. These are a few of the issues that many people are worried about. And fortunately, they have them since they can indicate a more severe problem in the car.
You can determine the causes of shaking by examining several conditions. To find out why the steering wheel vibrates
1. Off-balance tires
Starting at speeds over 80 km/h, the shaking gets more pronounced at about 100 km/h.
Why: Have you lately replaced the tires? They might not be balanced appropriately. Or perhaps the wheels have become out of alignment due to shocks, which you recall, I’m sure.
The wheels are balanced with weights, and shocks often knock them out of place or even cause them to fall off.
Check the wheels for missing weights, uneven tread, and bent rims to corroborate your concerns.
Make sure the balance of your tires is correct. As a general guideline, you should check the alignment every time you change the oil every 3 to 6 thousand miles.
2. Off-balance tires
When traveling straight, the car starts to veer to one side. The tire tread on both sides of the vehicle may be worn unevenly.
Experiencing potholes and speed bumps is the cause. The front wheels may start to move out of place if anything exerts too much strain or stress on them.
This could be the issue if you just changed the suspension on your automobile without having the alignment checked.
Solution: The issue should be resolved by checking the alignment, like with uneven tires. However, it is also worthwhile to have the suspension checked if this does not resolve the issue.
3. Underinflated tires
Your car’s steering wheel wobble may not be the only thing you notice; you may also see that you need to stop more often to fill up and that your miles per gallon appear to be declining.
Cause: One possible explanation for your steering wheel vibrating is low tire pressure, which results in less efficient tire tracking on the road and reduces fuel efficiency.
Solution: Verify the recommended tire pressure in your owner’s manual before taking your automobile to the closest gas station, which should have a digital pump.
This will enable you to check the tire pressure and, if necessary, top it off with compressed air.
4. Brake calipers
When traveling at a fast speed, the car vibrates. One can smell something burning on the drive, and the car seems to handle less well when accelerating.
Although it’s uncommon, stuck calipers may cause brake disc rubbing. The likelihood of material or debris becoming stuck around the discs or pads is higher.
Removal of any foreign matter should be simple. Take your car to a mechanic to get it looked at if this doesn’t fix the issue.
5. Shimmying while turning
This could be the issue if your car runs smoothly on straightaways but shakes and vibrates when you approach a bend.
Maybe you’ve noticed that the car starts to shake when you slow down and make a turn. The likelihood of you being surprised is lowest in this circumstance.
This issue may also be accompanied by loose steering and wheel noises that worsen as you speed.
When the car is turned, vibrations in the wheel are caused by loose wheel bearings. These bearings need to be replaced over time, just like the brake pads, and they need enough oil to work correctly.
The answer is to jack up the car, grasp the tire at the top and bottom, and rock it back and forth. The bearing is damaged if there is any screaming or unusual movement.
Visit a professional immediately because worn bearings frequently seize up on the road and could be dangerous if the front wheels lock up.
6. Vibrations while slowly driving
At slower speeds, sure,y our car’s systems exhibit issues that could be suspension-related. Some people experience various problems, including when the steering wheel moves slowly.
If the car only moves at very low speeds or when it first begins, you might not notice any vibrations in the steering wheel.
This could be accompanied by issues with the stability of the car and some sloppiness and looseness in the steering.
The suspension parts eventually wear out and stop dampening shocks, which is the cause of the steering wheel vibrating.
Solution: Any issues should be visible with a quick inspection of the steering knuckles, bushings, and upper and lower ball joints.
The front of the car is another option for the push test. If you press down on the hood, the hood should return to its resting place after around 1.5 bounces.
7. Shaking when accelerating
You might occasionally feel vibrations when you press the accelerator. Every time you press the accelerator, you’ll notice that the steering wheel starts to shake; if the situation worsens, the entire car may tremble.
Cause: When an engine malfunctions, the automobile stops running smoothly, and a noticeable vibration comes from the engine compartment.
This can be caused by problems with the fuel supply, air induction, or mismatched spark plugs.
The best action is to visit the mechanic immediately if you think there may be an engine issue because this is a crucial warning sign.
8. Braking vibrations
When braking, why does the steering wheel vibrate? You’ll feel these jerks when you apply the brakes to slow down your car.
As soon as you hit the brake pedal, you can notice that the steering wheel begins to tremble, which can get worse when stopping at a faster speed.
It’s also possible that the shaking starts as soon as the car is created, indicating an issue with the parking brake.
A brake disc issue brings on most vibrations. The brake disc may be bent due to wear and overheating, have a thickness issue, or be worn out and require replacement.
Brake failure is the last thing you want to happen while driving. Do a brief inspection as soon as you discover any brake issues; this should reveal whether you need new discs.
Additionally, you can visit the garage to have them checked by experts if the problem continues.
9. Additional factors: trapped things
The steering wheel may vibrate due to snow caught on the back of a wheel, tar on the road, or a plastic bag wrapped around the driveshaft or drive shaft.
Weights for wheels might also disappear. Additionally, avoid using tire sealants. The tire will shake if the bond does not entirely cling to the interior of the tire.
Tire sealants can be very difficult to remove and can damage a tire that can be repaired or the sensor in a tire pressure monitoring system.
Final thoughts on why a car shakes
If an automobile problem starts to appear frequently, don’t dismiss it. All cars occasionally shake and tremble; however, remember that issues are commonly avoided by early problem detection.
Visit your mechanic when you spot a problem for the most significant outcomes.
To prevent such issues, having your shop inspect your tires, wheels, brakes, and suspension at specified maintenance intervals is a good idea.
Most likely, a problem already presents in the steering wheel is causing it to shake. Fix the shaking issue before it leads to more issues, whether you examine your car or take it to a service.
