Is your vehicle vibrating while you drive? A shaking or vibrating vehicle can be caused by several different problems. Some problems can be fixed easily, whereas others are more complex.
What is causing the vibrations in your vehicle?
Tyres
A common reason for vehicles shaking is due to problems related to the tyres. Vibrating can be caused by damaged, worn or unbalanced tyres. If one of your tyres is much more worn than the others, it can result in your vehicle sitting unevenly, causing this problem.
Wheel Bearings
Worn wheel bearings can cause vibrations while you are driving. Although wheel bearings are made to last a long time, they will eventually wear out, which could cause your vehicle and steering wheel to shake. The shaking could also be caused by a wheel that isn’t securely attached.
Engine Misfires
A misfiring engine at idle (engine running when the car is stationary) can cause the engine to shake and vibrate noticeably. It is also common to experience engine misfiring when as you accelerate under load or at light throttle while travelling at a steady speed. Any one of these can make it feel like the car is vibrating or surging and if left with out repair, can cause damage to engine mounts, exhaust system, hoses and other engine components.
Worn out CV Joint
If a Constant Velocity (CV) joint is worn out, then the drive axle may be able to move excessively during driving causing vehicle vibrations, particularly through the steering wheel. There may also be loud clicking noises when turning sharply in either direction.
Brakes
If the vibrating intensifies when you brake, it could be a problem relating to your:
- brake rotors
- brake calipers
- brake pads
- brake drums
- brake shoes
If a brake rotor is bent or damaged, the brake pads cannot correctly apply pressure to the brake caliper, resulting in your vehicle vibrating. This is also true for brake drums. If the brake drum is distorted. You may also notice a pulsing through the braking pedal during braking.
Suspension
The shaking in your vehicle could be caused by damaged suspension components such as the axle or CV joint. These problems could cause the vehicle to shake more as it reaches higher speeds.
Engine Mounts
Most vehicles have several engine mounts. The engine mounts hold your vehicle’s engine in place so that it doesn’t move while you are driving. The engine mounts most often have rubber inserts to dampen the vibrations and noise from the engine to the vehicle chassis. In the event of a damaged rubber engine mount or loose engine mount, you could feel strong vibrations, excess engine noise, car shaking, or in extreme cases a loud “clunk” coming from the engine bay under heavy acceleration or braking.
Service your Shaking / Vibrating Vehicle in Hamilton
At Grimmer Motors, our team of experienced mechanics can quickly identify the source of the vibrations and fix the problem. Whether it’s tyres, wheel bearings, brakes, engine misfires, CV joints, suspension or engine mounts, we can provide quality diagnostics and part replacements, allowing your vehicle to drive smoothly again. For reliable vehicle servicing in Hamilton, contact us today!