If you're wondering, “My car is shaking when I drive; what could be wrong,” below are the ten most common causes:
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- Wheel imbalance
- Tire problems
- Suspension problems
- Braking system problems
- Misaligned wheels
- Engine misfire
- Exhaust system troubles
- Transmission problems
- Driveline problems
- Worn-out motor mounts
When driving your car, you mustn't deal with sudden weird behaviors like shaking or discomfort. If this happens, it might indicate that the vehicles suffer from an internal problem that you must address immediately.
Understanding what could cause your vehicle to behave strangely, especially when it shakes as you're driving, is very important because things could get complicated; problems might evolve to the point where you can't fix the vehicle.
This article highlights the ten most important causes behind car shaking when driving. Once you identify these potential causes, you must address them as soon as possible because the more you wait for the problem, the harder it gets to fix it.
My car is shaking when I drive: 10 causes and solutions
If you're driving your car and realize that the vehicle is shaking, that's not a good thing. It's an internal thing that happened to the vehicle. Keep in mind that if the shaking is happening when you're turning versus when you're driving straight or when you're driving at higher speeds, it might indicate a different problem.
However, shaking while driving is common, and the following list summarizes the ten most important causes that could lead to this problem. It also provides you with potential solutions to address:
1- Wheel imbalance
The first most common reason your car is shaking is when you have a problem with the wheels. If the wheels are not balanced properly, the weight will not be distributed evenly between them; therefore, the car will suffer and start complaining by shaking.
The solution for this problem involves revisiting the vehicle balance and confirming that the wheels are aligned properly. Typically, repair costs range from about $50 to $100, not considered very expensive for major repair costs impacting this problem.
2- Tire problems
The second issue might be related to the tires. Typically, as the tires were out, they might have uneven tire wear, leading to an imbalance in the vehicle overall, which could shake the car because it's not designed to drive this way.
One way to fix the problem is to perform tire rotation if there is some capacity in the lifespan of these tires. You can also replace the entire tires with completely fresh ones. Typically, if you're performing territory, it shouldn't cost you more than $50, but if you're looking for tire replacements, you might consider somewhere between $100 and $200 per tire.
3- Suspension problems
If you confirm that the tires and the wheels are in good shape, the next step is to check on the suspension system. Sometimes, the suspension components might wear out over time, assuming they're approaching the end of their lifetime.
If so, you must revisit each component and replace the faulty ones. For example, if your mechanic confirms that the bushings or the struts need replacement, you must do that.
Repair costs for this type of repair should range from somewhere between $200 and $1500, depending on the severity of the problem. Deciding whether to perform this repair depends heavily on how much value it adds to your vehicle.
4- Braking system problems
In some risky situations, the problem might be linked to a faulty braking system, which can be extremely critical to address immediately. Otherwise, you can impact your safety and other people driving with you.
The repairs might involve replacing the faulty components or even resurfacing some of the components. Sometimes, the brake pads might be faulty, requiring a complete replacement. Typically, repair costs range between $100 and $300 per axle, which is not very significant compared to some major problems in the vehicle.
5- Misaligned wheels
The wheel alignment is related to the balance but can be a different repair. Therefore, you must confirm that the wheels are aligned properly according to the angles specified in the vehicle owner's manual.
Wheel alignments cost $50 and $150, which is again not super expensive but can save you a ton of problems, and if you don't align the cars, things can get very complicated and might impact the suspension system.
6- Engine misfire
Interestingly, sometimes, a problem with the engine itself might lead to issues that can be translated into shaking. One of the common problems could be engine misfiring.
Fixing the problem depends heavily on identifying the potential cause of the issue. For example, if the cylinders are not receiving the proper amount of fuel coming to revisit the fuel system and the fuel supply appears
It can be hard to determine how much it'll cost to fix the problem because it depends on what's faulty and causing the engine to misfire. Therefore, we advise that you check with your mechanic to confirm the exact repair costs.
7- Exhaust system troubles
Another system that might impact your vehicle's shaking is the exhaust system. If the exhaust system has loose or damaged components, it can cause issues with the vehicle balance and might translate into vehicle shaking.
That's why if you're complaining that my car is shaking when I drive, you might want to check on the exhaust system and compare that you've placed them damaged or those components feared typically European cost to drain from somewhere between $100 and $500.
8- Transmission problems
Another thing that you might want to check if your car is shaking when driving is the transmission system. The transmission might have worn out or loose components. The transition also might suffer from a bad transmission fluid, which you must address immediately.
Changing the transmission fluid should cost between $100 and $250 while fixing other components might cost you between $100 and $200.00. If the problem is more severe, you can expect higher repair costs.
9- Driveline problems
The driveline is another potential culprit leading to vehicle shaking while driving. Therefore, you must check on the drive shaft and the CV joint to confirm that they are not in bad shape.
Your mechanic must replace these components if he confirms they are reaching the end of a lifetime. It can be hard to determine how much they expect because their costs will depend heavily on what is going on with the driveline system.
10- Worn-out motor mounts
Finally, if the drive line is in good shape, the next step is to check on the motor mounts. Sometimes, if those mounts could be loose or damaged, that might require a little placement.
Your mechanic needs to identify the faulty components and determine how much you expect to fix these components.
Is it worth fixing my car if it's shaking when I drive?
It all depends. As you might notice, many different reasons might cause your vehicle to shake while driving. However, repair costs can vary significantly, so you must check with the mechanic how much you expect to fix your car.
Automotive experts typically recommend comparing the total repair cost to your vehicle's value. If you find that repair costs are getting close to 75% or more of the value of your car, then you have to sell this vehicle rather than wasting your time trying to fix it.
My car is shaking when I drive—Final Thoughts.
If you're driving a car and realize that your car is shaking when driving, it is important that you not ignore the problem because it could indicate some internal issues. This article summarized the ten most important causes of car shaking while driving.
It's recommended that you address the problem immediately and fix the faulty components before things get out of hand. If you realize that repair costs are very high and not worth it for this vehicle, it might be a great time to sell it and use its value for a better car.
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