Does your steering wheel shake or vibrate while driving? While some vibration is normal on rough roads, persistent vibration, shaking, or wobbling is not normal. It means there’s a mechanical issue that needs attention.
Understanding the cause of steering wheel vibration helps you resolve the problem quickly, preventing more expensive repairs down the road if you simply ignore it. Let’s look at the most common causes and what you can do about them.
See Also: Why is My Steering Wheel Not Straight?
Top Causes of Steering Wheel Vibrations
A shaking steering wheel is your car’s way of telling you something isn’t right. The vibration might appear at low or high speeds, during braking, or only when turning. Understanding the possible causes often leads to a quicker diagnosis and smaller repair bill.
Related: Car Making a Rattling Noise? (8 Places to Check)
1) Unbalanced Tires
The most common cause of steering wheel vibration occurs when tires lose their proper balance. This typically creates a distinct shake at speeds between 45 and 75 mph.
Tire balance can be disrupted when wheel weights fall off, after hitting potholes, or following tire repairs. Even a small imbalance of less than an ounce can create noticeable vibration. Any time you get new tires, the wheel/tire combo must be rebalanced.
Fortunately, this is often the easiest and least expensive problem to fix. All that’s required is a simple tire balancing service, where a technician adds or adjusts small weights around the wheel to restore proper balance. If ignored, unbalanced tires can lead to uneven wear and reduced tire life, costing you much more in the long run.
2) Worn or Damaged Tires
Tires that have developed irregular wear patterns or physical damage will cause steering wheel vibration at various speeds. Common issues include flat spots from prolonged parking, dry rot, sidewall bubbles from impact damage, and uneven wear (inner or outer) from improper inflation or lack of rotation.
You might notice certain wear patterns (such as scalloping/cupping or feathering) that create a rhythmic vibration while driving. Some tire wear problems can be prevented with proper maintenance, but once significant irregular wear develops, replacement is usually necessary.
3) Wheel Alignment Issues
When wheels are knocked out of alignment, they don’t roll straight down the road, causing constant vibration and uneven tire wear. Misalignment often occurs after hitting potholes, curbs, or from normal wear of suspension components.
Other symptoms of bad alignment include a car that pulls to one side, a steering wheel that’s off-center when driving straight, and tires that wear unevenly on the edges.
There’s no set answer on how often to get a wheel alignment because so much of it depends on the roads you drive on. Personally, I will get a wheel alignment whenever I replace a suspension component, after hitting a pothole (and driving feels off), or if the car starts pulling to one side. If none of those occur, I’ll have an alignment done with every new set of tires.
Some tire shops and those who offer alignment as a service will naturally recommend getting an alignment once or twice each year. While it won’t hurt anything, that’s just throwing away money in 99% of cases (in my opinion).
4) Warped Brake Rotors
When brake rotors become warped or unevenly worn, they create a pulsing sensation in the steering wheel during braking. This vibration is most noticeable when slowing down from highway speeds and gets stronger as you press harder on the brake pedal.
Rotors can warp from excessive heat, hard braking, or normal wear over time. Sometimes rotors can be resurfaced if the warping is minimal, but severe cases require replacement. Driving with warped rotors not only creates an unpleasant vibration but also reduces your braking effectiveness.
5) Worn Ball Joints or Tie Rod Ends
These critical steering components connect your car’s wheels to the steering system. When ball joints or tie rod ends wear out, they create looseness in the steering system that translates to steering wheel vibration. Often, the shaking gets worse when turning or driving over bumps.
Worn tie rods often cause vibration during turns, while bad ball joints typically create a consistent shake and may produce a clunking sound over bumps. Both issues require prompt attention as these parts are essential for maintaining proper steering control.
6) CV Joint Problems
CV (Constant Velocity) joints, primarily found on front-wheel-drive vehicles, allow the axles to transfer power to the wheels while accommodating suspension movement. When these joints wear out, they create vibration that typically increases with speed and during turns.
You may notice the vibration is more pronounced when accelerating or making tight turns. A clicking noise when turning is another common symptom. Failed CV joint boots, which protect the joint from dirt and moisture, often lead to premature joint failure.
7) Bad Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings allow your wheels to spin freely while supporting the vehicle’s weight. When they wear out, they typically create a humming or grinding noise along with steering wheel vibration. The vibration often changes intensity as you turn left or right, and usually gets worse as your speed increases.
A failing wheel bearing might also cause your wheel to feel loose if you jack up the car and try to wiggle the wheel. While some wheel bearings last the life of the vehicle, others may fail prematurely due to water contamination, impact damage, or normal wear.
Vehicles that see high lateral loads frequently, such as track cars, are at higher risk for early failure.
8) Engine Mount Failure
Engine (motor) mounts secure your engine to the vehicle’s frame while absorbing engine vibration. When these mounts deteriorate, engine vibration transfers through the entire vehicle, including the steering wheel.
The problem is usually most noticeable at idle or when the engine is first started. You might feel increased vibration when shifting into drive or reverse, or when accelerating from a stop.
Failed motor mounts can allow excessive engine movement, which may lead to damage of other components if not quickly addressed. For instance, fan blades may hit surrounding components because the fan position moved due to a broken engine mount.
Diagnosing Steering Wheel Vibration
Before visiting a mechanic, you can narrow down the potential causes by paying attention to when and how the vibration occurs. Follow these steps to help identify the source of the problem:
Note When the Vibration Occurs
The timing of the vibration provides important clues.
- Vibration at higher speeds (45-75 mph) in most cases means you have a tire balance problem.
- If you only feel it during braking, suspect brake rotor issues.
- Vibration at low speeds might indicate wheel bearings or CV joints.
- If it worsens during turns, consider tie rods or ball joints.
- Vibration at idle often suggests engine mount problems.
Test Different Driving Conditions
When safe to do so, test your car under various conditions.
- Drive on smooth, straight roads to rule out surface issues.
- Notice any changes during gentle vs hard braking.
- Pay attention to how the vibration feels during left and right turns, and observe whether it changes during acceleration.
Perform Visual Inspections
Several problems can be spotted with a basic visual check.
- Examine your tires for uneven wear patterns or visible damage.
- Verify all tires are properly inflated.
- Look at your brake rotors for scoring or rust.
- Check for signs of leaking CV joint boots and make sure all wheel lug nuts are tight.
Consider Recent Events
Think about recent changes or incidents that might have triggered the problem. This could include tire service work, hitting a large pothole or curb, brake maintenance/repairs, suspension repairs, or alignment work. Recent changes are often responsible for these new vibrations.
If you can’t identify the source of the vibration after these steps, have a professional mechanic inspect your vehicle. Many shops offer free or low-cost diagnostic services to help identify steering and suspension problems.
- 7 Reasons Your Heated Seats Stopped Working (And Repair Costs) - January 8, 2025
- 9 Symptoms of a Bad or Clogged Heater Core (And Repair Costs) - January 3, 2025
- Remote Start Not Working? (6 Common Causes and Fixes) - December 23, 2024
how about the wheel was not mounted correctly and wheel not seated properly on hub.
Yes that could definitely cause a shake.