Why is My Steering Wheel Shaking?

The most common reason your steering wheel might be shaking is due to the alignment of your tires. When you have unbalanced tires, this can cause your wheels to make the steering wheel vibrate, and even the entire vehicle as you’re driving around Hudson. But what happens if your steering wheel shakes when braking? Other issues can cause your wheel to shake. Learn why your steering wheel might shake with the team at Tulley Mazda. Discover some common reasons and contact our technicians today for more information!

Five Causes of a Vibrating Steering Wheel

Why is my steering wheel shaking around Merrimack? There are five common reasons why you feel shaking in your steering wheel. Each of them alludes to different problems your vehicle might be having. Pay close attention to them and be sure to have your car checked out to make sure these problems don’t get any 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. Avoiding obstacles like potholes and driving slowly over railroad tracks avoids damage and makes misalignment less likely of an issue. It’s easy to tell when it is as you’ll notice when your tire treads are uneven.
• Bad Bearings: If you have damage or not enough 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 loose, worn out, 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 bring your vehicle to be serviced.

Bring Your Vehicle to our Service Center at Tulley Mazda!

If your steering wheel shakes when braking, it’s time to schedule an appointment with our Lowell-area service team. Before making your next visit, browse our service specials and see how much you can save. You can also order genuine Mazda parts from our team to replace worn-out pieces on your vehicle. Keep your car operating at peak performance near Nashua with the Tulley Mazda service center!