Why is My Steering Wheel Shaking?

When you come to our Virginia Beach-area service center and tell us, “My steering wheel shakes,” we’ll have some answers. The most common cause for a shaking steering wheel is your tire alignment. If your tires aren’t balanced, this can cause the wheels to make your steering wheel vibrate and sometimes even the entire car. However, if your tires are fine, you might wonder why your steering wheel is shaking. Explore some of the most common causes of a shaking steering wheel with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk. Learn more below and contact us with any additional questions!

Five Causes of a Vibrating Steering Wheel

There are several common reasons why you feel shaking in your steering wheel. Each of them alludes to different problems your vehicle could be having. Pay close attention to them and be sure to have your car checked out to make sure these problems don’t get worse:

• Unbalanced Wheels: The weight placement of your tires is important. If the weight isn’t evenly distributed when the tire is installed, you’ll feel your vehicle vibrating. This is more likely the case in models with lightweight suspension systems. If this isn’t resolved, you could have future issues with the shocks, struts, and other steering components. Bring your vehicle into the dealership and have the wheels checked and repositioned.
• Misalignment: Like with unbalanced wheels, improper positioning of your vehicle’s wheels can cause this issue. If you avoid obstacles like potholes and drive over railroad tracks slowly to prevent damage, misalignment is less likely to be the issue. It’s easy to tell when it is as you’ll notice that the tire treads would be uneven.
• Bad Bearings: If there is damage or less lubrication to keep these bearings working properly, they will cause friction which explains the shaking of your steering wheel. However, this only causes the wheel to shake when turning. Most times a simple cleaning of the bearings can help, but if there’s damage, they’ll need to be replaced and that can typically cost up to $430 including labor costs.
• Suspension Issues: If parts are worn out, loose, or the driveshaft is imbalanced, this could be the cause. Though these are simple fixes, they aren’t fixes to hold off on. Waiting to have these parts fixed could cause more damage.
• Brake Issues: If you notice your steering wheel shakes when slowing down, the issue lies within your brakes. Worn brake pads, defective brake discs, and even worn shocks can be the cause. Brake pads are also an easy replacement but can cost up to $300 per axle depending on where you service your vehicle around Chesapeake.

Schedule Service with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk Today!

If you tell us, “My steering wheel shakes,” the service team at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk is here to assist. Over the years, our technicians have helped Suffolk-area drivers keep their vehicles operating at peak performance. Before scheduling your next appointment, check out our service specials to see how much you can save. You can also order genuine Chevrolet parts from our dealership to replace worn-out pieces. Get your car serviced with the team at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk!