It’s frustrating when you start experiencing something like your steering wheel shaking. It can also make controlling your car more difficult, which is a big safety hazard. Viking Automotive has some possible answers for you about what could be causing your steering wheel to vibrate.
Steering System Trouble
The most obvious reason for your car’s steering wheel to shake is that there’s a problem somewhere in the steering system. The steering wheel or column might be loose, or you could have issues with the power steering pump. You may have other issues related to steering if this is the case.
Alignment Issues
If your car’s wheels are out of alignment, that’s something that can translate up through the steering column to the steering wheel. What’s happening in this situation is that you’re trying to steer the car in one direction and because the wheels are misaligned, they’re trying to go in a different direction. That’s going to keep your car and you fighting for control.
Tire Problems
Tire issues often become apparent to you through the steering wheel as the feedback from the tires connecting with the road reverberates back up through the steering system. You’re most likely going to experience shaking in the steering wheel from tire issues when you’re in motion. Usually, the faster you’re going, the more pronounced the shaking will be.
Brake Issues
Brake issues can definitely be something that you feel in the steering wheel. Kind of like with tire issues, you’ll feel shaking in the steering wheel as you try to stop. The harder you’re trying to stop, the more pronounced the shaking is likely to be. The culprit is often a warped rotor or an unevenly worn brake pad.
Suspension Problems
Your car’s suspension and steering systems often get confused for being the same system, so when there’s something going on in the suspension you may feel it in the steering wheel. You may be hearing other sounds and feeling other problems if the issue is suspension-related, so be on the lookout for what else is not functioning as well as it should be.
Want to get a definitive answer about what’s causing your steering wheel to shake? That’s a good idea and Viking Automotive in Houston, TX can help. Contact us today and we’ll set up an appointment to take a closer look at what’s going on with your car’s steering wheel.