Q: Fast Vibration that increases with speed, and can be felt best through the steering wheel

asked by on January 31, 2017

At low speeds, 25 to 40 the vibration starts really heavy, as though it is the drive shaft, but around 45 it becomes more pronounced through the steering wheel and gets worse as I increase speed. I just had the driveshaft rebuilt and balanced by professionals. The tires have not been balanced recently but the vibration feels much too fast for an unbalanced tire

My car has 93000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Steering wheel vibrates or shakes Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Usually, vibration in the steering wheel is due to dynamic imbalance of the wheel/tire assembly and/or a rim is bent. Wireless chassis ears can be helpful in the diagnostic as they can pinpoint if one side, versus the other, is the origin of the noise. Wheel bearing failure could be a possibility. Certain tire defects, particularly internal belt damage or separations, as well as irregular tire wear will cause vibration as well. Indeed, defective tires will vibrate no matter how "well" balanced they are and some brand new tires with irregularities in sidewall stiffness and excessive radial force variation will vibrate no matter how well balanced. Contributing factors in the circumstance you are describing could be worn struts in the suspension and also loose engine mounts. If there are flat spots on the tire tread for example, that would be indicative of worn struts. If you request a vibration diagnostic, a certified mechanic from YourMechanic would evaluate all the possibilities, including tire balance, and resolve this for you.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I check the brake fluid level?
The brake fluid is necessary for the brakes to function correctly. Locate the tank that holds the brake fluid which is located on the back left side of the car under the hood. On the side of the tank, you’ll...
What does the charge Warning Light mean?
The charge Warning Light is located on the instrument panel, and will illuminate when your battery is not charging properly. When this light comes on, have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible to avoid having the battery die. Tips...
Replaced starter and flywheel twice and still have the same problem
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 1993 Jeep Wrangler. Your vehicle starter was replaced by a new starter part number and the shim should not be used. If you are using an aftermarket starter, then you may need...
slow ignition start
If the starter sounds weak when the key is turned, it is likely that the battery was low on charge or the starter is actually getting weak. I would recommend having the battery voltage level tested (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-will-not-hold-a-charge-inspection) during a starting...
P0300 & p1133
Inasmuch as the car was running fine before the work was done, the likeliest explanation is that the timing was belt was installed out of position, that is one tooth off. Such will cause the engine to run very badly,...
2012 chevy sonic thermostat repair cost
Hi There, When the thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement) is stuck open, this can cause problems with the engine never reaching the proper operating temperature as you may know. While the thermostat remains stuck open, this allows coolant to pass through the motor...
Does putting my car into accessory mode count as a key cycle on a scanner?
You have to turn it to on all the way to count as a key on cycle and then back to off for one key cycle.
my steering wheel pulls to the right and vibrates could it mean i need a inner tie rod or just balancing
Hi Adrezona. Thanks for contacting us today. When a car pulls to one side, there are two possible reasons. First and most common, the front suspension is out of alignment or second, the tire has what's known as a radial...
So how would a relay,a fuse, cost for windshield wipers?
Hi Marques. Thanks for contacting us today. If your wipers are not working correct, it could be due to multiple reasons. Before we can give you an estimate for repair, it would be required to correctly diagnose the issue, so...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re an Athletic Coach
If If you are an athletic coach, you need a used vehicle with tons of room to transport gear. Once in awhile, you may have to take a player or two along with you as well. What this means is...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Need to Haul a Motocross Bike
Of Of course you would love to be able to ride your motocross bike everywhere, but the reality is, at some point you're going to need to transport it. A cargo van of almost any make or model would be...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're an Uber or Lyft Driver
Are Are you thinking of becoming a driver for Uber or Lyft? That could be an exciting career change – you’ll get to meet a lot of interesting people, and if you love to drive, what better way to spend...