Why does steering wheel vibrate

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Posted in Maintenance No driver likes it when their steering wheel starts shaking. Tires out of Balance This is the most obvious and the most common reason that you might experience a shaking steering wheel. There could be loose screws, or the linkage components may be worn. If the vibrations appear only when you apply the brakes, then the brakes are likely to be the cause of the problem.

This does not necessarily mean that the brakes are about to fail, but they might be warped or distorted. In order to assist the workshop in diagnosing the problem, you should note when the problem appears. Is it only when you reach a certain speed, for instance, or is it there all the time?

Or does it only occur when you apply the brakes? The most common cause of a vibrating steering wheel is poor tyre balance, so your tyres are probably the first thing your mechanic will want to check. We have updated our cookie policy to reflect changes in the law on cookies. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Hitting an object will shift the weight balance of the tire to where the tire struck the object. Another simple check is to inspect the side of the wheel where the weights were initially installed. If you see a clean spot in the shape of a wheel weight on the side of your wheel, it's likely that the weight fell off.

This check is hard to complete on the inside of the wheel, but if you can, turn the wheel to the left and inspect the inside as well. Inside the wheel bearing housing is lubricant designed to keep the bearings cool and reduce the buildup of heat as the wheel spins.

Over time, the wheel bearings tend to lose lubricity, and if the bearings are not replaced in a timely manner, they can cause the wheel hub to loosen. As the vehicle drives down the road, the loose wheel will vibrate, which may be felt in the steering wheel. There is a very simple test that any novice mechanic can perform to check whether or not the wheel bearings are causing the vibration. To perform this inspection, you'll need to follow these basic steps.

Step 1: Raise the front end of the vehicle on jack stands. Using a hydraulic lift or a jack and jack stands, raise the front end of the vehicle. As noted in the image above, the inspection for loose or worn out wheel bearings is rather simple to complete and is done by touch.

Push and pull the tire in and out with both hands. If you do this and hear a clunking sound, or the wheel moves freely while shaking the tire, it's a good indication that the wheel bearings are worn out and need to be replaced. Step 3: Replace the wheel bearings or have a mechanic complete this task. If you have the right tools and experience, replacing the wheel bearings is a rather simple job to complete. But if you don't, or simply do not feel comfortable completing this task, contact a mechanic who can replace your wheel bearings for you.

This is a dangerous situation that you don't want to delay fixing. There are multiple components that comprise the modern front end suspension. Each of these parts are connected to providing steering input, power the front wheels and keep the front wheel in line so the vehicle will drive straight down the road.

Improper alignment of suspension parts can impact the stability of the vehicle, and can also cause shaking in the steering wheel. The shaking is typically caused by suspension parts that are worn out or loose, which causes the alignment issues.

Reason 2: Why Your Steering Wheel Shakes at High Speeds Another component of your brake system that may contribute to steering wheel shakes is the brake caliper. Reason 3: Why Your Steering Wheel Shakes While Turning There are a wide variety of reasons why steering wheels squeak when turning, but what happens when they shake while turning? Categories auto maintenance 54 auto repair 35 money-saving tips 18 car maintenance 16 cleveland mechanic 12 performance 12 car safety 11 brake repair 8 muffler repair 8 car service 6 car parts 5 cleveland auto repair 5 auto repair financing 4 auto upgrades 3 suspension 3 cleveland car service 2 transmission 2 wheel alignment 2 winter car maintenance 2 Cleveland New Year's Eve Activities 1 Cleveland new years eve 1 Warranties 1 car taking longer to start 1 cleveland events 1 oil additives 1 shocks 1 slow start 1 slow-starting vehicle 1 struts 1 tires 1 transmission fluid 1 transmissions 1.

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