Why Is My Steering Wheel Shaking?

When it comes to automobiles, it doesn’t matter if you’re driving a brand-new vehicle, an aging vehicle, or a vehicle that is near its expiration date. Because regardless of what you drive, how you drive it, and where you drive it, mechanical issues are inevitable.

From routine brake jobs to major engine overhauls, vehicles can perplex us, cost us a LOT of money, and leave us extremely frustrated. Particularly when you are driving a newer vehicle that has had regular maintenance, and suddenly, your steering wheel starts shaking.

And perhaps what started as a little vibration or rumble, has now become a major shake that affects your ability to control your vehicle properly while driving. If your steering wheel has started shaking while driving or braking, there could one of several issues taking place on your vehicle.

As a professional scrap car removal company that has been buying scrap cars in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley since 2005, we’ve seen it all. Thus, we put our gained knowledge into these blog posts to help our customers (and even those that aren’t!) with various car questions and concerns. In today’s blog post, we’ll go into detail about what types of things can make your steering wheel shake on your car, and what to do about it.

What Causes Your Steering Wheel to Shake?

Imagine that you are happily driving along Highway 1 on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and suddenly, traffic starts to slow down just as you hit the variable speed corridor between Whatcom Road and No. 3 Road in Abbotsford. As you begin to brake to adjust your speed, you notice your steering wheel gently vibrating.

As nothing else seems to be affected, you decide to keep an eye on it over the next few days or even weeks. As time goes on, your steering wheel shakes begin to worsen. And it does so until it becomes so offensive and concerning that you finally take it into your most trusted mechanic, like the wonderful people at Chilliwack Pro Auto Care.

As your mechanic begins to inspect your vehicle, he asks you a bunch of questions to help him quickly diagnose the problem. Does it happen only when driving? When you brake? While turning? While reversing? And after asking all the questions and performing a visual inspection, he’ll let you know what exactly is causing your steering wheel to shake. The most common cause, your brakes.

Reasons Why Your Car Steering Wheel Shakes

While brakes may be the most common cause of a steering wheel shake or shutter, it’s not the only reason. Knowing for certain what’s causing the issue is a job for the professionals. However, if you’ve noticed other unusual noises, vibrations, or anything else, combined with the steering wheel shake, it could help pinpoint the problem for your mechanic.

Reasons Why Your Steering Wheels is Shaking Include:

• Warped rotors
• Damaged wheels
• Unbalanced tires
• A bad wheel alignment
• Malfunctioning suspension components like tie-rods, control arm bushings, or a stuck brake caliper
• Rough engine idle

Knowing what other signs to look out for when attempting to diagnose a shaky steering wheel is critical, so we will elaborate on each issue individually in a moment. If you think that your brakes are failing, or that multiple systems, parts, or components in your car need attention, consider whether or not it’s worth even doing the repairs or replacements.

Sometimes, scrapping your car is more practical than dumping money into a vehicle that will only give you further problems down the road. This is why many Lower Mainland residents scrap their car with More Cash For Scrap. We always pay MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys!

Why Does My Steering Wheel Shake on My Car?

An improper brake installation can be the culprit for warped rotors on your brakes. But so can aggressive driving habits, poor quality brake components, and aging brake systems. As a professional scrap car removal company that has serviced Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley for 30 years, we see many vehicles with brake system issues.

In fact, the cost to do a complete brake job on an aging vehicle can be so expensive, that many people simply scrap their cars. If you notice your brakes squealing alongside of the shaky steering wheel, and smell a burning smell from time to time, get your vehicle looked at by a professional. Chances are that you need new rotors, and likely, new brake pads along with it.

We offer MORE cash for scrap cars that need brake work, along with any other mechanical or electrical repairs. And with our free same day towing, you can get cash in your pocket in as little as an hour from when you call.

2. Damaged Wheels Or Unbalanced Tires

You might think this one is obvious, but how often do you actually look at your wheels and tires? Probably not as often as you should. In fact, 85% of people don’t actually check their tires or wheels unless there is an issue.

The main reason people check their tires is when their vehicle is pulling to one side or the other. And the other most common reason is because your vehicle’s dashboard indicator light told you to. However, the indicator only signals if there is low air pressure. It does not tell you if your wheel or tire is damaged.

A damaged wheel or tire can be from a variety of things. Hitting the curb while parking, driving over a cement median, and even uneven tire wear from not having your tires rotated regularly. If you’re experiencing a shaky steering wheel, before assuming anything else, get out and check your tires and wheels for bulges and noticeable deformities.

3. A Bad Wheel Alignment

You might think that you’d notice this one as soon as you leave your mechanic’s. However, a bad wheel alignment doesn’t show signs immediately after the work has been completed.

Because there are so many parts and components responsible for the alignment of your vehicle, any number of things can go wrong. If you brought your car to the mechanic for a simple alignment, then notice new or worsening issues afterwards, it could mean the alignment was done incorrectly.

Signs of a Bad Wheel Alignment Include:

• Your vehicle pulls to one side
• Shaky steering wheel
• Loose feeling steering
• Vibrations while turning
• Uneven tire wear
• An off-centre steering wheel
• Tires that squeal when turning corners

Some of these signs of a bad wheel alignment can be indicators of other things (much like anything on an aging vehicle). However, if you’ve just had a wheel alignment done and are experiencing these issues, it could mean it wasn’t done right. Have it checked out by someone reputable like our good friends at Midas Brake and Muffler in Surrey.

4. Malfunctioning Suspension Components

Just like your brake system, the suspension on a car is comprised of many working and moving parts. In fact, we see a LOT of aging vehicles come through our doors due to suspension issues.

When you need things like tie-rod replacements, strut replacements, and new control arm bushings, the costs can really add up. This is why we have always offered MORE cash for scrap cars with major suspension issues than anyone in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley.

If your steering wheel is shaking and you know for certain that it’s not your brakes (like if you’ve just had your brakes done), get it in for an inspection. Usually, your mechanic will point this out to you before performing a brake job, but everyone makes mistakes. So, simply get them to take a looking and find out why your steering wheel is shaking.

5. Rough Engine Idle

Another big and very common issue for a shaky or vibrating steering wheel is a rough engine idle. And a rough engine idle can be caused by so many things, that it’s hard to know exactly what the cause is without having a proper diagnostic done by a licensed mechanic.

As vehicles age, things naturally work less efficiently than they once did. With so many moving parts, no matter what grade of oil you use, no matter how much maintenance you’ve put money into, your car is still at risk for engine failure. And typically, a rougher than usual engine idle is a key indicator of exactly that.

Other Signs of Engine Failure Include:

• Hesitation
• Stalling
• Worsening gas mileage
• Oil leaks
• Burning oil
• Hard starts
• Sluggish performance

Engine failure is one of the things we see the most in the scrap car removal industry. And while it isn’t the most common cause of a shaky steering wheel, it does happen. This is why we love paying MORE cash for scrap cars that need new engines. Particularly, late model cars and SUVs.

We know the true value of the vehicles that we scrap. We also know that even when a car needs a major repair like a new engine or transmission, that there is still a lot left on it that is valuable. This is why we offer MORE cash for scrap cars than any other scrap car removal company in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Cash for Cars with Mechanical Issues

Older and aging vehicles usually are more costly to keep repairing than a newer vehicle would be to maintain. This is why many people choose to sell their car to More Cash For Scrap when a big repair bill is on its way. We pay MORE cash for scrap cars than any other scrap car removal company in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Talk to our team members today to find out what your vehicle might be worth. It may be more practical to sell your car to us and get something newer that requires less regular servicing or repairs. When you start noticing repair bills piling up, turn to the scrap car removal services of More Cash For Scrap, and sell your car, truck, SUV, or van for MORE!

What Types of Scrap Vehicles Do We Buy?

Anything and everything that you can think of! Whether it’s a complete car that needs a new engine, or a vehicle that has already been parted out, we’ll make you an offer on it. We buy scrap cars from all walks of life, and always for MORE cash than the other guys!

We Are Always Looking to Buy:

• Scrap cars with mechanical issues
• Junkers with electrical problems
• Vehicles with collision damage
• ICBC write-offs
• Daily drivers with REALLY high mileage
• Vehicles with rotten or missing portions
• Junk cars with or without the catalytic converter
• Late model vehicles that need a new engine or transmission

How Much Cash Can I Get for My Car?

Every vehicle that we buy gets a completely different offer because every vehicle is different. Some have a better maintenance history, and others have extensive collision damage. Some are still running but require big repairs to keep them going. So, we need to properly assess your vehicle first. This can be done right over the phone.

Provide us with the make, model, year, and condition of your junk car. If you’re still able to retrieve the number of kilometres it has on it, let us know that too. Then, we’ll make you an offer based off of all the information that you’ve given us. As well as the current market prices for metal weights, and the overall demand for what type of vehicle that you have.

If you accept our offer, we’ll send out tow truck to pick up your vehicle that day. We provide our scrap car removal services 7 days a week, from 7:00 AM-11:00 PM. Also, we pick up scrap cars from anywhere in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley entirely for free.

Call Our Scrap Car Removal Team Today!

You could be on your way to driving a newer vehicle without a shaking steering wheel if you sell your car to More Cash For Scrap. We offer MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys and provide same day scrap car removal from anywhere in the Lower Mainland.

If you want a quick and easy way to scrap your car for the most cash, scrap it with More Cash For Scrap. We offer MORE customer service, MORE flexible scrap car pick-up times, and MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys!

Call or text our scrap car removal specialists today to get an instant cash offer on your car. You’ll be glad you did!