Reasons Your Car Is Shaking
Sometimes your car gets the shakes when you reach a certain speed. It might shake or bounce more than usual when you go over a speed bump or hit a pothole. The way your vehicle is vibrating can explain a lot about the cause of its issues.
- Alignment: If your wheels are out of alignment, it can result in your car shaking or vibrating while driving. You might not notice the vibration until you reach highway speeds.
- Tire Balance: Your tires should be balanced such that they are pointing in the direction you are driving. One or more tires out of balance could cause your car to pull to the right or left even while the steering wheel is straight. It can also cause vibration at highway speeds.
- Suspension Failure: Suspension parts failing can contribute to alignment issues. This is a likely source of your car shaking or pulling to the right or left.
- Worn Out Shocks: When your shocks wear out, you might notice your car bouncing more than usual when you go over bumps. Shocks that are really worn out can cause vibrations on the highway as well.
- Tire Failure: Sometimes, a vehicle will begin shaking shortly before a tire fails. The shaking could begin mere moments before a catastrophic failure, or it could be several days. You might have a flat spot, dry rot, or tread coming apart that leads to the presence of a vibration. A tire failure can be instantly dangerous. If your vehicle is shaking, especially if it feels violent or is getting worse rapidly, you need to bring it to us immediately.
Tire and suspension issues are among the most dangerous to drivers.
The Dangers of Suspension and Tire Issues
Suspension Issues are not something to take lightly. Dangers of worn-out shocks and struts include:
- The issues will only get worse and more expensive to repair as time goes on.
- Worn suspension and misalignment will cause your tires to wear unevenly. The best-case scenario is that you simply have to replace them sooner than you would otherwise. The worst-case scenario, however, is a total tire failure.
- A car that’s shaking or pulling to one side is more difficult to drive. This increases your likelihood of an accident and reduces your ability to make evasive maneuvers.
- Suspension issues and uneven tire wear can contribute to hydroplaning and other weather-related driving issues.
- A tire that is worn out or wearing unevenly is susceptible to total failure. A tire failure is one of the most frightening experiences for drivers and can be incredibly dangerous to you and other vehicles.
- Any issue with a vehicle can ultimately cause a domino effect of other parts failing sooner than they should.
What Drivers Should Do About Suspension Issues
When your car is shaking, the problem is not going to correct itself. You need to bring your vehicle to your trusted mechanic for suspension or tire repairs.
Your mechanic can help diagnose the exact cause of your vehicle shaking or pulling to one side or the other. They will be able to correct alignment issues and identify whether it is time for new tires.
When your tires are worn, it affects not just the handling and performance of your vehicle but also poses a safety risk. You don't want to risk a blowout by allowing a tire to become severely damaged.
The same is true for suspension parts. You need to have them corrected as quickly as possible. Bring your automobile to Jody's Automotive if you need new tires or suspect that your tires are wearing unevenly.
We will help you get new tires, new shocks and repair your suspension, so you can get back on the road safely. Contact Jody’s Automotive for more information.