Why does my steering wheel vibrate? Top seven reasons

If you start to notice that your steering wheel vibrates, keep in mind that it is not just something uncomfortable or irritating. It can even pose a serious problem for the safety and longevity of the vehicle.

Why does my steering wheel vibrate? That is a fairly common question that we are going to try to answer in Actualidad Motor checking your main causes y solutions, how to proceed in each case and the approximate price of the repair (if necessary).

The first thing to distinguish is whether the steering wheel vibrates with the car moving or also when it is stopped with the engine idling. We start with the 7 reasons for the vibration in the steering wheel with the car in motion. They are the most common and have more diverse and complicated origins. Nevertheless, at the end you can also see the reasons why the steering wheel vibrates when stationary.

1- Condition of the tires and their balance

When the steering wheel vibrates in motion, the origin of these annoying vibrations is usually, in most cases, related to the tires themselves. It should be noted that the tires are another of the key points of the car because they are our only point of contact with the ground.

Vibrations due to uneven or defective tires

If our car equips tires with uneven wear on the front axle or do these have some defect derived from the passage of time, poor storage or manufacturing defects (relatively common in low-cost tires) we will notice unpleasant parasitic movements in our steering wheel.

Car not moving for a long time

One of the problems that usually arise when the car is not used for a long period is the tires deform on your tread. This defect usually manifests itself in vibrations or movements in the direction at speeds between 5 and 40 km/h.

Related article:

Wheel balancing: when to do it, what it consists of and how much it costs

To avoid this, when you leave the car without moving for a long timeyou should raise the tire pressure. This will eliminate the deformation of these against the ground and they will not be permanently deformed. Normally 3,2 bar is sufficient, but it can vary from car to car. To do it well you must look at two factors:

• that the deformation of the wheel disappears
• that you do not exceed the maximum pressure indicated on the side of the tire

There are more circumstances in which it is convenient to vary the tire pressure to avoid damage and to have maximum safety. In the following video we explain them all:

In any case, if upon reviewing the tire condition you see deformation or other damages it is better that you replace them as soon as possible. The deformation, due to not having increased the pressure of a car without using it for a long time, is usually noticed as a rhythmic vibration, which will increase little by little with the speed of the car. This rhythmic "wobble" is also caused by a dented or warped tire.

Unbalanced tire vibrations

El unbalanced tires It is another of the frequent factors by which the steering wheel of the car can vibrate. If the steering wheel vibrates only at a certain speed (eg 100, 120 or 140 km/h) or in a certain speed range, unbalanced tires may be the source of the problem.

Many times we will notice these vibrations after changing the wheels or even when brand new car. If in the factory or in the workshop have not balanced correctly the tires or one of the counterweights has come off, it is normal to notice vibrations.

The solution is simple and cheap: balance the tires again (about 10 euros/tyre). It would also not be the first time that the only reason for the vibrations is poorly tightened rim bolts, whose tightening torque should be between approximately 100 and 140 Nm.

2- Misaligned steering and suspension geometry

Another of the frequent reasons why vibrations may appear in the steering wheel while driving is driving with the misaligned steering or improper suspension geometry.

All cars have to respect certain levels determined by the manufacturers so that the tire hits the ground optimally. If our steering is misaligned or the suspension elements are not perfectly adjusted, premature tire wear, increased consumption, poorer dynamic behavior of the vehicle and the fortunate vibrations in the steering wheel can occur.

The solution for this problem goes through a visit to the workshop, Yes or yes. Precision elements and technical information are necessary to be able to conveniently adjust the dimensions of the suspension and steering. The cost can be between 50 and 100 euros, although it will vary depending on the price of labor, the complexity of the vehicle and the necessary adjustments.

Related article:

How can I know if my car needs an alignment?

3- Brake discs in poor condition

Si the steering wheel vibrates when you brake, the origin is almost always in the brakes. In such a case, it is most likely that the front brake discs are warped or deformed. As they are not completely flat, they transmit annoying vibrations to the steering wheel and pedals and greatly reduce braking efficiency.

The warping of the brakes can be caused by a very demanding use of the same, sudden changes in temperature (for example passing a large puddle after intense braking) or by the wear of the discs and pads. In this case, the solution goes through correct the brake discs or replace them for some new ones. Normally the second is the most appropriate for cost and guarantees.

Whenever new brake discs are fitted, the brake pads should be changed at the same time, since the old pads are "stale" with the wear of the previous disc.

The price of this repair is very variable, especially influencing the vehicle. The replacement of discs and pads does not require advanced mechanical knowledge, so it is possible to do it yourself with simple tools, although we must never forget that they are essential for safety and When in doubt, leave it to professionals..

If you suspect that this is your case, we recommend that you take a look at the article Does your car vibrate when braking? Causes and solutions. In it we explain everything you need to know exactly where the problem is and how to solve it.

Related article:

When to change brake discs

4- Vibrations due to the silentblocks

Silentblocks are rubber studs that join different metal parts and whose function is to prevent noise, wear and dampen vibrations. If these deteriorate, they end up taking slack that can translate into vibrations in the steering wheel.

She is clearances occur in the suspension or steering arms, the vehicle is also likely to lose optimal suspension geometry, which again can translate into more vibrations. Silentblock problems are always increasing and it is advisable to replace them for comfort and safety. The price of these repairs is very variable and depending on the parts to be replaced, the cost can exceed 300 or 400 euros. Keep in mind that silent blocks in poor condition will considerably shorten the life of the tires, so in the long run, the sooner we tackle the repair, the more we will save.

Detecting play in the silentblocks is relatively easy with a lift and a good iron lever. They also check it in the ITV with a mobile plate on which they place the wheels while they inspect below from the pit. We detail how to do it in the article Suspension Bushes.

5- CV joints

All the CV joints of our cars join the bearings with their ends. Its function is to transmit the rotation of the engine to the wheels, allowing the suspension and steering to work properly.

If our vehicle accumulates many kilometers it is possible that the CVs accumulate a certain wear. It is frequent that bellows or dust covers of these, being rubber, over time they deteriorate and crack, giving rise to grease losses that lubricate the homokinetics. By losing the grease, the greater friction will cause temperatures to rise and wear to increase, causing noise and vibration, in addition to breakages of the CV joint that put our safety at risk if they occur while we are driving. A clear symptom of wear is metallic noises, especially at low speed, starting from a standstill and in tight turns.

El price of a CV joint varies a lot from car to car as some can be rebuilt and some are sold as a complete set with driveshaft. In any case, it will hardly go below 150 euros.

It may also be the case that one of the driveshafts have been bent or damaged. What also involves vibrations when driving the car. As you can deduce, it will be a vibration that will increase in frequency along with speed.

6- Wheel bearings and hubs

Un bearing or a hub-bearing assembly in poor condition can be the source of annoying vibrations in the steering wheel. They are more difficult to detect because they can come and go during a test drive. For example, sometimes they appear when braking and can make us believe that the origin is the brake discs or pads. Sometimes they are accompanied by a buzzing sound that appears and disappears depending on driving conditions (cornering, braking, etc.).

The solution is to change the bearing or the hub, paying attention if during assembly-disassembly the strut or shaft has also been damaged. In fact, these vibrations sometimes appear after a repair, due to poor mounting of the bearings or hubs. The approximate price of the repair can be in about 100 euros per wheel.

7- Shock absorbers

The bad shock absorbers They greatly affect driving and the duration of other elements of the car, mainly tire wear and, to a lesser extent, silentblock wear. When the steering wheel vibrates and it is determined that the cause is the tires or silentblocks, it is advisable to check if the shock absorbers, cups and other fasteners are in good condition since we could mask the true origin of the problem.

The shock absorbers must be changed at the same time on the same axis, it is advisable to replace all four at the same time for a better balance of the car. A set of normal shock absorbers with labor will cost approximately €500. take a look at the article How do you know if the shock absorbers need to be replaced? if you think they may be failing.

in a car there hundreds of parts and mechanisms, for that reason, there may be more reasons why your car accuses steering wheel vibrations, such as a loose steering box and an endless number of poorly tightened or deteriorated parts and screws. Keeping the steering (and suspension) of our car in good condition is very important. In this way we will preserve the original driving comfort of the car, its dynamic behavior and above all, safety.

Steering wheel vibration at stationary (idle)

Bad spark plugs or coils

The first thing to distinguish is if the steering wheel vibrates with the car moving Or does he do it when he's stationary (but engine running). If your case is the second, the biggest suspects are the spark plugs. If one does not do its job or does it incorrectly, the combustion of that cylinder will not take place.

Since the engine is balanced to run on a specific number of cylinders, when one does not run or does so inefficiently, annoying vibrations. A bad ignition coil can cause the same problem, just like the spark plug wires, since both are the ones that give current to the spark plugs.

Faulty dual-mass flywheel

If your dual-mass flywheel stops doing its job, you will notice vibes and a noise of excessive rattle with the car stopped. To determine if this is the case there are two symptoms:

• noise type ratchet when depressing the clutch with the engine running and no gear engaged
• noise type clack clack clack when stopping the engine 

Related article:

Fault in the dual-mass flywheel, what are the symptoms?

Injector problem

Injectors can cause a problem similar to spark plugs. That is, that imbalance by not generating combustion in one or more cylinders. A diagnostic machine can you clarify this problem.

diesel heaters

These vibrations will only appear when cold and are caused because the heaters have not increased the temperature of the combustion chambers enough. Hence, the car vibrates when stationary, before you have had time to start moving.

Engine silent blocks

The engine sits on the silent blocks, to prevent vibrations from being transferred to the rest of the bodywork and therefore the steering wheel and even the passenger compartment. if they are already in poor condition or cracked the vibrations will be very noticeable. This is also a more common problem with older diesel engines and the vibrations are both at standstill and on the move.

Problems resulting from excessive steering wheel vibration

If the problem causing your steering wheel to vibrate is not fixed, they can end up appearing other problems derived. Subjecting the vehicle to these vibrations for a long time will cause the wear or misalignment of other parts important. For example, unbalanced tires could cause the silentblocks to deteriorate prematurely.

The steering system is one of the most likely to suffer. The vibrations are transmitted to the steering wheel following the path of the lugs, box and tie rod. So what is noticeable on the steering wheel is also being received by all these elements. If you think your address may have some problem, you can make sure of it with the article Steering System Diagnosis.

Other elements that also suffer if the steering wheel vibrates are precisely the same ones that can cause them and that we have been mentioning throughout the article. A misalignment in any part of the undercarriage It will affect with its vibrations all the elements through which said vibration can be propagated. As an example, we can put unbalanced tires back on. This will affect the silentblocks, but it can also create problems in the bearings or in the CV joints, which can also receive part of the vibrations.

Also, the problem if the steering wheel vibrates It's not just discomfort. They can be the symptom of problems that affect the dynamic capacity of the car. Especially when they are caused by steering misalignment or suspension geometry. If these values ​​are out of those marked by the manufacturer our car will behave worse in dodge maneuvers or other movements important for safety.

Images – Kārlis Dambrāns, Bryn Pinzgauer, Joan Campderrós-i-Canas, Greg Gjerdingen, Emilio Küffer