What Causes Shaking in a Car

Irish Mike’s Total Car Care • Sep 13, 2023

What Causes Shaking in a Car

Irish Mike’s Total Car Care • Sep 13, 2023

It’s a typical morning. You hop in the car, turn the key in the ignition and begin your drive to work. And then you feel a strange vibration in your steering wheel. Or your brake pedal starts shaking. Either way, those probably aren’t the good vibrations you’re looking for on your morning commute. If your car is shaking when driving, or it shakes when it’s starting up, that vibration could be a symptom of a bigger issue. It’s crucial to take care of this problem as soon as possible. Ignoring a problem for too long — even if it doesn’t seem to impact your car’s functioning — can result in serious damage to your vehicle, which can mean costly repairs later on.


What Starts the Shaking?

A vibrating car can have many causes, so it’s important to get to the root of the problem as quickly as possible. Before bringing your car in, pay careful attention to what conditions start the shaking. Your mechanic can use this information to pinpoint the source of the problem. Consider the following:

  • Is your car shaking when idle?
  • Is your car shaking while braking?
  • Is your car shaking when it starts?
  • Is your car shaking when accelerating?
  • Is your car making a vibrating noise when driving?
  • Does the car only shake at certain speeds?


Make sure to also note where the vibration is coming from. Common sources include the seat, the pedals or the wheel, but you might feel it in more than one place if you’re dealing with a more complex issue.


Common Causes for Vibration in Cars

Once you’ve investigated the conditions of the shaking, you can use your observations to figure out what might be going on. Here are some of the most common reasons your car may be vibrating.


WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND AXLE PROBLEMS

If your steering wheel feels unstable, or if it wiggles when you drive, one or more of your wheels may be out of alignment. You may also have an issue with your wheel bearings, ball joints or tie rod ends. This misalignment can cause your vehicle to shake. You may also feel the shaking intensify as you accelerate. If this is the case, you could have a damaged axle. Most cars have two axles — one connecting the front wheels and one connecting the rear wheels. If either axle gets bent or deformed in an accident, it can cause your car to shake. It’s also smart to inspect the driveshaft and constant velocity (CV) joints for potential issues. Your driveshaft is the central rod that transmits torque to your wheels, and the CV joints connect the wheels to the transmission. If either component experiences heavy wear, it can let dust and debris into your system and cause further damage.


WORN-OUT TIRES

If your car only shakes at higher speeds, it could be due to uneven tire wear. In an ideal situation, your tires would wear at the same rate. The front of your car takes most of the force when you’re driving, though, so the front tires tend to wear down faster than the rear tires. Uneven wear can also happen when your tire and wheel systems are out of balance or experience heavy use. It could also be the result of more serious issues, which is why you should bring your car to the shop. Ask your mechanic about balancing and rotation if you think your tires are causing the problem. Worst case scenario, you’ll need to buy a new set of tires.


WORN-OUT SUSPENSION

When your spindles, control arms or bushings wear out, they can cause suspension system malfunctions that can cause your vehicle to shake. If you experience any of the following, your suspension system may be experiencing problems:

  • You feel the shaking in your steering wheel
  • Your car only shakes when you change speeds
  • Your car only shakes when you drive over bumps
  • You hear abnormal noises like squealing, clunking or squeaking


Your suspension system is complex and includes many different parts. If you’re inexperienced with repairing cars, this is definitely an issue you’ll want to leave to a professional.


ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS

If your car is experiencing engine or transmission failure, it can start shaking. Common issues include:

  • Loose engine mounts: Your engine mounts connect your engine to your car and dampen the normal vibrations from the engine. If these mounts are loose or worn out, you’ll likely feel and hear those vibrations.
  • Loose transmission mount: The transmission mount connects your transmission to a crossmember, which connects to the chassis and absorbs vibrations. You could feel the vibrations if your transmission mount becomes loose.
  • Dirty air filter: A dirty or clogged air filter prevents oxygen from entering your engine, which can cause it to run improperly.
  • Low transmission fluid: If the shaking only happens when you accelerate, you may need to add more transmission fluid.


While these issues are usually easy to fix, you need to address them as soon as possible. Your mechanic could uncover more serious problems after inspection. For example, leaving a leaking system alone can cause permanent damage to your system — which can cost you much more down the line.


BRAKE DAMAGE OR MALFUNCTIONS

If your car shakes when you’re driving slowly or idling, your brake system may be the source of the problem. Your front brake mechanism, which includes the brake rotor, brake pads and calipers, takes the most damage when you brake. If you feel the vibration through your steering wheel and brake pedal, you may have worn or damaged rotors. These metal discs attach to the wheel and can become warped over time. The problem could also be in your brake pads, which slow your car down by pressing against the rotors. When your brake pads wear out and become too thin, they can cause your vehicle to shake. Ask your mechanic about brake rotor and pad replacements when you bring it in.


How to Fix a Shaking Car

While you may be able to fix simple issues on your own, it’s best to bring your car to a professional right away. An experienced technician can take a look at your car and determine whether you’re dealing with a quick fix or a symptom of a bigger issue. When you bring your vehicle in to Irish Mike’s Total Car Care, you can have peace of mind knowing you’re leaving it in good hands. Our experts will carefully inspect your car to identify the problem and offer the best solution. We can also provide suggestions for preventing similar problems in the future. If need help with a shaking or vibrating car, we’re here for you. We offer a wide range of automotive repair services, including tire repair, vehicle realignment, brake pad replacements and more. Contact us online or call us at 407-974-7041 to schedule an appointment today.

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Maintaining your car is one of the most vital parts of car ownership. In order for a car to function well, last longer and be a safe way of traveling for you, you need to take care of it. Unfortunately, tire rotation is one part of car maintenance that often gets overlooked or forgotten about, even though it is one of the most essential. Most people don’t take the time to look at their tires and inspect their condition. It’s imperative that tires are rotated often in order to have them last longer, wear evenly and to ensure that they’re not endangering passengers or other cars on the road. But how often should you rotate your car’s tires? The amount of time or miles until you need to rotate your tires depends on your specific car and tires, as tires wear at different rates. Experts, however, generally suggest rotating a car’s tires after every 6000 to 8000 miles or at least every six months. If you drive a lot, experts suggest getting your tires rotated after every 3000 to 5000 miles or every time your car’s oil gets changed . It is also recommended to read your vehicle’s owner’s manual, as it should provide you with more specific guidance on tire rotation for your car. The Importance of Rotating Your Tires Still wondering if tire rotation is necessary? Tire rotation is an important task that should never be ignored, as it can help you travel safer. When tires are not rotated properly, they might not wear evenly, which could affect a car’s safety and performance. When tires wear out over time, they become less effective. Their grip on the road will decrease, stopping distances will increase and they can become a safety hazard if worn out. Because a car’s front tires are mainly responsible for braking, wheel quality is incredibly important. If these tires are not evenly worn or overly-worn, the car or its brakes cannot function properly . In other words, by rotating your car’s tires often, you will lower your risk of experiencing tire issues such as tire failures or blowouts. In turn, this would reduce your risk for any future inconvenient or possibly dangerous situations. In addition to helping you drive safer, regular tire rotations can also have practical value and help you save money. If your tires have a warranty, regular maintenance and rotations might be required by the warranty. Rotating a car’s tires on a regular basis helps with improving fuel efficiency and traction by ensuring that the car’s tires wear down more evenly. This will increase the tires’ lifespan, and in turn, save you a lot of money in the long run. Regular tire rotation is essential for ensuring that you get the best possible performance from your car and its tires. How to Know Your Tires Need to Be Rotated There are a few warning signs that can indicate that it is time to get your car’s tires rotated. Here are the three main signs to look out for: 1. TIRES ARE SHOWING UNEVEN WEAR All tires will wear down over time, but it is important to ensure that they wear down as evenly as possible. Due to the front tires bearing most of the car’s weight and having the engine directly above them, they will usually start wearing down first and much faster than the rear tires. In addition to being responsible for directing the car when turning, the front tires also play a big role in braking as the car’s weight moves forward. So, if you notice that the front tires are showing more wear than the rear tires, it is time to rotate the tires and switch the front ones with the rear ones. Over time, the wear difference will become less significant. 2. LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE If you notice that one of the tires is losing air pressure for no obvious reason, or it is losing air pressure faster than the other tires, it means that there is probably too much pressure on the tire. This is a sign of uneven wear and that it’s time to get your car’s tires rotated or repaired. Either way, it is recommended to go to a professional and have them inspect your car’s tires. Sometimes, it is not the tire losing air pressure that has uneven wear, and it may only be making up for the tire with uneven wear by supporting more of the car’s weight. So, it’s important to make sure you have all the tires checked for possible punctures and uneven wear. 3. CAR VIBRATION Generally, when you are driving, the drive should be comfortable and smooth, unless you are on a road with a lot of bumps or holes. It is not normal to feel any unnatural shimmying or vibration when driving. However, if you do feel that your car vibrates when driving, it could be a sign of uneven wear on one or more of your tires or that your tires are not properly balanced. This could mean that your tires need to be rotated, balanced or the wheels need to be aligned properly. 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Contact Irish Mike’s Total Car Care for Tire Balancing and Rotation Services It is clear how important regular and proper tire maintenance is for your car or vehicle. Making sure that your car’s tires are rotated regularly and that your tires are properly balanced are crucial for car safety, as well as longevity. If you are in need of professional tire rotation or tire balancing services near you, contact us at Irish Mike’s Total Car Care by calling (407) 584-1171 or schedule an appointment online, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
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