Aug 16, 2019
Have you noticed a vibration coming from your steering wheel lately? If you answered yes, it’s incredibly frustrating, isn’t it? But, this is your car trying to tell you something. Steering wheel vibration indicates a variety of serious issues and they need attention ASAP!
Don’t just assume that it’s coming from your tyres, as there are other issues that could be causing that vibration through your steering wheel. We have put together the most common reasons for experiencing steering wheel vibration.
When you buy new tyres, they need balanced. It’s not as simple as making sure they’re good quality. New tyres must be balanced for the weight to be evenly distributed around the entire wheel.
If your wheels are even slightly unbalanced, this will cause vibration through your steering wheel. Now that low profile tyres are becoming increasingly popular, this issue is very common. Don’t ignore this tell-tale sign, as if left untreated you could experience more issues with tread, suspension and struts, to name a few.
When you have bad wheel bearings, the steering wheel will shake when turning in any direction. Wheel hub bearings are designed to keep your car in its best condition. Steering wheel vibration can occur when wheel hub bearings become damaged or broken. They are designed to help your wheels rotate without any friction and support the weight of your car. If your cars wheel hub bearings aren’t working correctly, the problem is going to affect your drive shaft. Resulting in that annoying, shaky steering wheel.
Again, we have a wheel issue. Misaligned wheels cause steering wheel vibration. This is one of the top culprits, misalignment deals with your car’s suspension and lack of proper positioning of the wheels. This generally happens when driving your car over time and can also depend on how you drive. Avoid potholes and kerbing your wheels, drive over speed bumps and railway lines slowly. An easy way to spot this issue is to check your tyre tread. Uneven tyre tread is an obvious symptom of misaligned tyres.
A suspension system in a car is very complex and contributes to how your car handles and brakes, minimises bumps, noises and vibrations. Suspension issues will come to light over time, while they are difficult to pinpoint, they can be easy to fix. The most common issues with suspension such as old shocks or loose connections will lead to a vibrating steering wheel. Your steering wheel will be vibrating when driving at high speeds, maintaining speed or randomly. Knowing exactly when the shakes start can help diagnose the problem more effectively.
If your steering wheel vibrates when slowing down, the chances are it is a problem with the brakes. Loose connections, worn brake pads or shocks and brad brake discs can cause a shaky steering wheel. You will notice the brake problems when applying pressure to them, making them easier to spot than other issues.
All in all, no matter what’s causing steering wheel vibration, get it looked at as soon as possible. Need to find somewhere near you that can help with your vibrating steering wheel? Enter your reg number today and get a quote from our trusted local mechanics in your area!
