5 Causes of Steering Wheel Vibration at Low and High Speeds
On a relatively good road, your car should be able to drive smoothly. However, you may have experienced steering wheel vibration, which is totally normal. If you drive a jeep or a lifted truck, you should also be concerned about “death wobble” (a different level of shaking).
The steering wheel is your car’s indirect connection to the road. So it’s only natural that the first sign that something is broken or out of balance would be in the steering wheel. Here are the most common causes of steering wheel vibration or wobble: Common Causes of Steering Wheel Shaking While Driving
If your steering wheel shakes or vibrates, either at low or high speeds, you should check the following parts of your vehicle:
1) Tires (Tire Unbalance)
That makes the most sense. Since the steering wheel is used to steer the wheels, it’s only normal for tire issues to come through the wheels. The most obvious cause here is an unbalanced tire.
This issue will not cause any shaking at low speeds, but the shaking will become more noticeable as the speed increases. Check your tires for flat spots (especially on vehicles that haven’t been driven recently), as this issue usually causes uneven tire wear.
Make sure all four tires are properly inflated. A flat tire can also cause the steering wheel to shake. Finally, check the tire wear. If one side is more worn than the other, replace the tire to compensate for the tire wear. If the tire tread is badly damaged or you can’t replace the tire, you need a new tire.
2) Around the Wheel (Symptoms of Bad Tie Rod End)
If it’s not the tire, the next place to check is the wheel. After all, the tire is the heart of every tire. Do a physical inspection first, carefully look for any damage to the wheel or rim, and check the wheel bearings.
Theoretically it should last a lifetime, but that’s only in theory. In real life, they will eventually wear out or become damaged. Replacing them should solve your steering wheel shaking or wobbling problem.
Problems with tie rod ends or ball joints are easy to diagnose. If your steering wheel only shudders when cornering and doesn’t shudder at all when going straight, the tie rod end is likely the culprit. The opposite happens if the ball joint is defective. The shaking only occurs when driving straight, not when cornering.
3) Axles (bent)
If your car has been in an accident recently and you have just started to feel the vibrations, you should check the axles for any issues, as they are most likely bent or damaged. The shaking gets worse as the speed increases, but it can occur even at low speeds.
If the drive shaft is broken, your steering wheel may move erratically. The steering wheel will swing left and right on its own. This is an immediate warning sign. Take your car to a mechanic (don’t drive it yourself) and get it fixed right away.
4) Engine Mounts
Even if it doesn’t make sense at first, it can be useful to think about it. Engine problems manifested by shaking will be felt throughout the car, but it’s usually the steering wheel that gives you a warning before this happens.
Engine mounts are designed to secure the engine to the vehicle’s frame and absorb vibrations. If one or more mounts wear out or break, you may experience noticeable vibrations, especially through the steering wheel.
The problem is most noticeable when accelerating or when the engine is under load. The vibrations may increase with engine speed (RPM) but not vehicle speed (MPH).
5) Brakes (Brake Problems)
When it comes to safety, brakes are your number one priority. A broken engine may prevent you from driving your car, but a broken brake may prevent you from stopping your car, which is even more dangerous. If you have a brake problem, you’ll usually only feel a vibration in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes (see below), but a stuck brake caliper will cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel when driving at high speeds.