Why is my steering wheel shaking?

No matter whether you drive a petrol, diesel or self-charging hybrid car, you may at some point experience your car vibrating while you are driving or stationary.

Vibrations occur in a number of different ways, including your steering wheel shaking, your car shaking when driving, your car vibrating at high speeds, or even your car vibrating when idle. The causes of these vibrations can usually be put down to one of the below:

• Faulty or damaged tyres
• Wheel misalignment
• Wheel imbalance
• Worn or seized brakes
• Worn parts
• Exhaust resonance
• Powertrain issues

If you’ve experienced your car shaking, this article can help in understanding a little more about why it’s happening, - and we'll highlight some troubleshooting tips!

Why does my steering wheel shake at high speeds

Car vibrating at high speeds explanation

If your car is vibrating at high speeds, the most common culprit is usually your tyres, wheel balance or alignment.

What will happen if your car’s wheels are unbalanced?

Tyres that are out of balance will cause shaking while driving at higher speeds (usually around 50mph - 70mph). A tyre is out of balance when one section of the tyre is heavier than another.

Out-of-balance tyres can cause vibration in the steering wheel, through the seat, and through the floor (steering wheel = front tyres; seat/floor = back tyres).

An experienced mechanic can balance tyres using a computerised wheel balancer that will measure the imbalance before weights are added to correct it.

What will happen if your wheels are misaligned?

Tyre balancing should not be confused with wheel alignment - wheel alignment is to do with the angle at which your wheels hit the road.

If you feel vibrations from your steering wheel, it is likely that the vibration is coming from misaligned wheels. Your wheels can become misaligned from something as simple as hitting a pothole.

A mechanic will be able to align your wheels using a wheel alignment machine.

What will happen if you have faulty or damaged tyres?

Vibrating or bouncing could also be caused by a broken or slipped belt, which would cause uneven wear on your tyres.

Your tyres may need to be replaced if the vibration is left for too long, and tyres have uneven wear.

Poor quality tyres are likely to wear out sooner, and worn tyres can be dangerous, so it is important to regularly check your tyre tread and replace your tyres as required.

Car shaking when braking explanation

If the vibration only happens when you hit the brakes, then that is probably where the problem lies. It’s common for wear and tear to occur in our brakes, as we use them so often while driving.

Why does my car shake when I brake at high speeds?

Over time, you may find that your brake discs have become warped, which means that the brake pads and callipers can't get enough grip when you apply the brakes. Some automotive professionals refer to this as ‘brake shudder’.

It could also be that the calliper has become stuck to the brake pad and disc; this then results in the brake pad applying uneven pressure to the brake disc. Consequently, shaking and vibration can be felt.

If you are experiencing any of the above when driving, it’s important to see a professional as soon as you can.

Car shaking while driving explanation

Powertrain

If you've looked at your tyres, checked they are balanced and aligned, and checked your brakes and other parts only to find that everything looks like it's in good condition, there’s a chance the vibration could be a result of your powertrain in ICE vehicles.

This is a bit of a bigger job, as the powertrain is made up of the engine, clutch, gearbox, drive shaft and differential.

The first step here will depend on whether your car is an automatic or manual.

Automatic

Start by checking transmission fluid level and condition. If low, top it up, and try and find where the fluid went. (Vibration caused by this will usually occur upon acceleration.)

Manual

Start by checking operation and condition of the clutch. A slipping/glazed clutch can sometimes cause vibrations.

For a proper inspection of the powertrain, you should book a service with an experienced mechanic, as the cause of the vibration could be something more complex and harder to diagnose, like an issue with the inner CV joints.

Note: Problems with inner CV joints will usually also occur at higher speeds (60mph+), so if your car is vibrating at high speeds – and you've checked your tyres – it's probable that you have a powertrain problem.

Car shaking when idle explanation

If your car vibrates when idle, there are a few other causes to consider:

Worn parts

Naturally, car parts like struts or shocks, upper strut bearings, ball joints and tie rod ends degrade through time and use. Wear and tear of parts like this can sometimes lead to vibrations being felt when your car is idle.

For example, worn or cracked engine mounts can cause vibration when idle or driving at low speed. These mounts are made to secure the engine to the chassis and naturally absorb any vibration, thus, if not in full working order, shaking of the engine could be felt throughout the car.

Spark plugs are an essential component of your petrol car's ignition system, creating the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture in the engine cylinders. If a spark plug is worn out or has a fault, it may not fire correctly, leading to an engine misfire. A misfire means one or more cylinders are not contributing evenly, causing engine judder.

Resonance in the exhaust

This problem may occur following a change in exhaust system (changing muffler/tailpipe), a bent pipe that touches the chassis, or a broken pipe. Also, if the original tuning weights have been removed or are missing, vibration would occur.

Conclusion

If your car has been vibrating or shaking while driving, driving at high speeds, while you are idle or when you are braking, we hope this article has helped towards diagnosing the cause of the issue.

If you are worried about car vibrations, then we are never far from you if you need some help. Our friendly service centre staff and vehicle technicians would be more than happy to help with any concerns you may have.