All You Need to Know Regarding Steering Wheel Vibrations
Caring for your vehicle isn’t always easy or cheap—especially if problems persist for long periods of time without servicing. Driving a European car like an Audi, MINI, Saab, BMW, or Volkswagen requires special attention to the basic services that contribute to such cars’ performance level. For instance, oil changes, filter changes, and tire care are some of the most foundational maintenance procedures that can keep your car running well; however, there are other tasks that should be addressed before symptoms of malfunction arise.
Ignoring some of the other important maintenance tasks involved in ongoing vehicle care can cause concerning symptoms to come up. For instance, a vibrating steering wheel is an indicator that your car requires servicing. Steering wheel vibration is a common sign of several issues, so it’s important to bring your car to an automotive specialist who can provide you with an accurate diagnosis before you begin spending money on repairs. In this article we’ll go over some of the possible causes of steering wheel vibration and what you can do to keep your steering smooth.
Possible Causes of Vibration
There are usually a number of different areas that your trusted automotive technician will look into before diagnosing your car with any particular issue. Steering wheel vibration is particularly concerning to drivers because it is dangerous and can potentially cause an accident—especially while traveling at high speeds. It helps to have a foundational understanding of what could be at the root of the issue; so, here are the most common causes of steering wheel vibration:
Improper Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is both a condition and a process that help your car drive in a straight direction by ensuring that all your wheels are pointing in the exact same direction, to the same degree, and that all four wheels match. This process is performed by a computer-guided technique to ensure precision. Driving through common road imperfections, accidents, or running over a curb can affect wheel alignment. If you notice that your car is pulling in one direction and the steering wheel is vibrating at high speeds, the issue could be related to your wheel alignment.
Improper Wheel Balance
Many people confuse wheel alignment and wheel balance; however, they are two very different processes. While wheel alignment focuses on the degree of “alignment” between all four wheels, wheel balance focuses on each individual wheel and its own imperfections. Guided by precise technology, your automotive professional will inspect each wheel looking for slight damages or wheel imperfections that affect your car’s steering and performance. They counteract these imperfections by adding weight to the weak spots, evening out the wheel all the way around. This ensures a smoother ride all together, and often eliminates steering vibration.
Suspension Problems
Your car’s suspension is a system of complex parts that work together to ensure a smooth ride. When certain suspension parts become too worn or become loosened, it can cause rattling, vibrating, and noticeable differences in your car’s ability to handle road imperfections. Having your suspension checked out often includes wheel inspections—as the function of the two are often highly correlated.
Brakes Need Servicing
Last, but not least, your brakes are a critical component to your car’s function and your safety. Brake health should be a part of ongoing vehicle care to ensure your safety above all else. When brakes parts become worn, such as the calipers and rotors, it can lead to performance issues like intense vibration. Sometimes the vibration will worsen as your car increases speed. Removing your tires can best allow professionals to inspect your brakes, so it might be beneficial to have your wheels, suspension, and brakes inspected all at once.
What We Can Do to Help
The experts here at Munich West, serving clients from Decatur, Atlanta, GA, have been providing specialized automotive care for European car drivers since 1976. Our long standing business and accumulated experience over the years has afforded us invaluable knowledge and expertise working with these special vehicles. Steering wheel vibration is concerning for any driver, but especially for those who cherish their cars. We aim to prevent these common performance issues with preventive care year round. If you’d like help maintaining and repairing your vehicle, please contact us to learn more about our personalized care and affordable prices.
