Does the Car’s Steering Wheel Vibrate?

Some of the most common symptoms in a car are transmitted to the driver by the steering wheel. It tells us what happens to our car, but also what to do. If we detect the message sent by the steering wheel in time, we could get away with it and avoid any serious accidents caused by mechanical problems.

Oval discs

If your car's steering wheel only shakes when you brake, it's a brake. Specifically, brake discs that are no longer perfectly parallel to the brake pads and calipers.

This is called ovalization, although it is not a real ovalization, ie the round shape does not become oval, but only the centering is lost, and it appears in most cars. There are two reasons for the ovalization: poor quality car parts and wrong driving.

Ovalization initially manifests as a slight trepidation, then stronger. Most of the time it appears for the first time when we brake at high speed, and when the disc becomes more oval, it will vibrate at low speeds. The solution is to either rectify the discs or replace them with a new set.

Steering rods

The steering rods are metal parts, components of the steering system. They connect the head of the steering box and make the connection between the wheel and the steering wheel. Shocks are transmitted from the wheel to the steering wheel through these elements, and over time, due to potholes, but also the forcing of the driver behind the wheel when cornering, wear occurs in the ball joint.

When the steering rods or the ends of the bar are worn out, the steering wheel starts to play a big game. This can lead to vibration of the steering wheel, especially at high speeds.

But when there is this problem, we can easily identify it because there is an iron-on-iron noise at the pits or when we pull harder on the steering wheel. The rods and the bar head are not reconditioned but only replaced with new ones.

Steering box

The steering wheel can also vibrate while driving if we have problems with the steering gear. The steering has many elements, all in motion, and if they catch wear, the game between them also appears. And from the wheel to the steering wheel we can wake up with games of a few centimeters.

This means that there is a short distance at which the wheels can do what they want, without being controlled by the driver. So vibrations occur even at low speeds. But this is a positive thing because the vibrations appear before things become tragic. If we have major problems with the steering gear, we run the risk of running out of direction and having an accident.

Usually, when there are problems with the cassette, liquid leaks also appear. In conclusion, if we feel something behind the wheel but we also see oil markets under the engine, we have to check the box and its condition.

Unbalanced wheels

The vibration felt by the driver behind the wheel can also be caused by poorly balanced wheels. Or wheels that, over time, have become unbalanced. This can happen very easily.

Either the lead with which the wheel was balanced jumped and got lost, or because a hole appeared in the tire or a crooked rim, or if there was a foreign body attached to the wheel or tire. There were cases in which a large screw was stuck in the tire and, although it did not deflate the wheel, it made the whole wheel tremble.

Or, during the winter, there is a risk that a piece of ice or snow will hide under the rim and at high speed will transmit tremors in the steering wheel. The good part about this is that the cause of the vibration is easy and inexpensive.

Anti-roll rod

Another element that once damaged leads to vibrations in the steering wheel is the anti-roll rod. This piece is very similar to a bar head and has the same role: to join two different pieces. The anti-roll rod connects the stabilizer bar to the car's scales, being made of a joint with a steel and rubber ball.

Over time, dust enters, and moisture between the rubber and the metal or the metal begins to rust, which means the ball is playing.

As with the steering rods, the driver begins to hear the classic metal knock noise, and if you ignore it and wear increases, you will feel vibrations in the steering wheel. All the elements of the steering must be well cohesive and tight so that there is no play and no trepidation.