Wobbling or vibration isn’t normal in an automobile unless you’re driving on a bumpy or dirt road. If your vehicle’s ride isn’t as smooth as it used to be, there could be something with the wheels or brakes. When your car, truck, or C/SUV wobbles helps us here at J&S Auto Repair diagnose the cause of the unusual motion. Let’s talk more about wobbling cars and what could possibly be wrong.
Where Your Vehicle Vibrates
Where you feel the vibration also tells us a lot. You may feel wobbling in your brake pedal, steering wheel, or underneath you. Depending on how severe the vibration is, you might also feel your entire car shake. Keep in mind that none of this is normal, so it’s a good idea to have the source of the vibration found and fixed right away. Depending on the problem, ignoring it could cause further damage.
Causes of a Wobbling Car
Let’s break this down further to help you identify the possible reason why your vehicle has suddenly turned into a bounce house on the road. Your vehicle might be wobbling due to the
- Air Filter: When an air filter is dirty or clogged, your vehicle’s engine performance will be affected and the whole car might shake, especially when you accelerate.
- Brakes: If your brake pads are worn down, or if you have warped rotors or stuck calipers, you’ll feel your brake pedal or steering wheel wobble when you brake.
- Fuel Filter: As with the air filter, a clogged fuel filter can also make your entire car vibrate when you accelerate because the engine is fuel-starved.
- Fuel Injectors: Your entire vehicle will also wobble if the fuel injectors are spraying too little or too much gasoline into the cylinders or intake manifold.
- Shocks/Struts: Worn shocks and struts will make your whole vehicle bounce because they can no longer absorb uneven and bumpy road conditions.
- Spark Plugs: If your vehicle’s spark plugs are misfiring, your car will shudder. This vehicle wobble often feels as if the engine is sputtering and dying.
- Tires: Uneven tire tread wear, different tires on each wheel, or underinflated or overinflated tires can make your vehicle wobble underneath you.
- Wheel Alignment: If your wheels are not aligned properly, your entire car might shake and the steering wheel will be off-center when you drive straight.
- Wheel Balance: Unbalanced wheels will make your entire car shake. The shaking will get worse the faster you go and subside as you slow down.
All of these things can happen as your vehicle ages. Preventative maintenance can help you avoid wobbling because it replaces clogged or worn parts.
Give J&S Auto Repair in Warwick, RI, if your vehicle wobbles. We’ll fix the problem and smooth out your ride.
