Reasons Why Your Steering Wheel Shakes

A shaking steering wheel can mean a few different things and not all shakes are the same. Here are a few different reasons why your car or steering wheel may be shaking.

1. Under Inflated or unbalanced tires.

You may have noticed that when the weather gets colder it seems like our tires deflate a little and that’s because they do. The colder weather causes your tires to decrease slightly in pressure. Couple this with your car sitting for a while and you may develop a flat spot in your tires. You can now obviously see how this could trigger a shake in your steering wheel. Make sure to check your tire pressure often and aim to keep your tire’s pressure around 35 lbs.

2. Your engine has a misfire.

A misfire can come from a lot of different sources. It’s good to be able to distinguish between your car shaking from your engine not running properly or from a faulty alignment. The two shakes will feel different than one another. A misfire shouldn’t shake your steering wheel so that should help you distinguish between your alignment needing some realigning or your engine actually misfiring. A misfire is more likely to feel like your car is sputtering with a noticeable loss of power.

3. Misalignment or bent axle.

A misalignment will leave your car to more likely shake at higher speeds. With the winter now in full swings that mean the infamous potholes will be back especially if you live in Pennsylvania. Nailing one of those pesky potholes can wreak havoc on your car’s suspension and alignment. If you notice a shake in your car’s drivability after hitting a pothole, it’s most likely because of a misalignment, bent axle, or damaged component of your car’s suspension.

Reach out to Bob’s Auto Repair if you’re experiencing any issues with your car’s drivability this winter. The road conditions can play a large role in how your car is driving come springtime. Schedule an appointment to keep your car running smoothly and for any other auto repair needs you have!