The Main Reasons for a Car to Vibrate at Higher Speeds

Vibrations in a car going at a high speed can be caused by numerous issues. Most of the people are ignorant about the various symptoms exhibited by a car whenever something goes wrong with it. Generally, the vibrations of a car are attributed to the engine or bad road surface. This is where a car owner makes a grievous mistake. However, at times a vibration can be caused due to malfunctioning of several other vital parts. Here, are some of the most common reasons for vibrations in a speeding car.

Damaged wheel camber

The most common source of vibrations when driving at higher speed is unbalanced wheels. Camber is an important factor that affects the condition of the tires. A change in the camber can be extremely detrimental to the overall balance of the car and can cause it to shake. Wheels on a car must be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. Any change in the default configuration can affect the other components linked to the wheel such as the axle and the suspension. A tire is out of balance when one section when one section of the tire is heavier than another. The out of balance wheels can cause vibrations in the steering wheel, seats or through the floor of the car.

Bent wheel rim

A damaged or bent rim can be the cause of the imbalance of the wheel while rotating and lead to vibration of the car. In case of a bent rim, the vibrations are noticeable even at a low speed of 40 miles per hour and it just goes on increasing the speed of the car rises. A bent rim needs to be addressed early for safety reasons. When the tire's seal on the rim is compromised, then a blowout or sudden loss of tire pressure is possible. The rim can be straightened or replaced depending on the severity.

Warped brake disc

If the vibration only happens when the brakes are applied, then the brake discs may have become warped over time. It means that the brake pads and the calipers don't get enough grips when the brakes are applied. The disc brakes are usually maintenance-free and rarely get damaged. But when any problem occurs, it can lead to serious vibrations during braking. The braking in a disc brake system relies on a uniformly smooth disc and any disfigurement in the latter prevents the brake pads from making full contact with the disk. Such problems reduce braking power and cause vibrations along the chassis.

Worn motor mounts

A motor mount holds the car's engine in place and can get worn over time. The engine is secured to the car's chassis by the motor mounts, which vary in appearance depending on the shape and strength needed for any given car. The motor mounts are usually made of metal and rubber and can be found placed between the engine and the frame of the car. The metal in the motor mount provides the structural integrity needed to hold everything in place and the rubber helps absorb the engine's vibrations. When the motor mounts are worn, the metal no longer is able to provide a firm brace between the engine and the chassis and even the rubber fails to absorb all the vibrations.

Axle problems

A car constitutes of various rotating parts which have to bear certain tolerances in order to perform properly. On normal smooth roads, the axles do not get affected but off-road driving can damage the axle resulting in vibrations which pick up its intensity as the speedometer reading rises. Even check the driveshaft as this rapidly spinning part transfers engine power to the rear axles and wheels. A bent shaft or axle can cause significant vibrations.

Loose steering components

The steering components, like any other parts of your car, can wear out but due to the slow rate of wear, it always gets unnoticed. There are a lot of little moving parts that physically connect the steering wheel with the four-wheel on the ground. Generally, tie rods are the links from the steering gear, to the wheels. They are a small ball and socket that allows for travel vertically and horizontally. When these tie rod ends become loose, the wheels don't move in the direction you are steering it. This leads to a side to side movement and an excessively loose tie rod can cause a bad vibration at any speed. When a vibration occurs from the steering components, then only a trained professional will be able to determine and fix the problem.

We at Germany's Best INC. located at College Avenue in Oakland, CA are the most trusted German auto center in Oakland having over 25 years of exceptional service experience. We carry out maintenance & repair of some of the most popular German cars.