Should You Be Concerned if Your Car Shakes at High Speed?
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 4 min read
- Reasons your car is shaking at high speeds
- Car shakes at high speed: Tire issues
- Car shakes at high speed: Engine problems
- Bent or uneven driveshaft and axles
- Can uneven brake rotors cause a car to shake?
Load full table of contents
A car vibrates slightly while you drive due to the rotation of
transmission
gears and the crankshaft. However, these vibrations don’t usually distract you
while you’re on the road. If the vibrations get violent, it’s time to take action.Fortunately, most of the problems that cause car shakes are simple to fix. We recommend having a professional auto service technician
repair
your car for vibration-related issues. Here are some reasons why your car might be shaking at high speeds.
Reasons your car is shaking at high speeds
The first step in getting your car fixed is diagnosing why it's shaking at high speeds. Here are the most likely reasons:
- Out of balance tires. If your tires are out of balance, the steering wheel and whole car may shake around 60 mph.
- Engine problems. Engine failure, a clogged fuel filter, or poor spark plugs could all cause your car to shake.
- Bent driveshaft or axles. If you were hit a bad speed bump, pot hole, or have some kind of collision, your driveshaft or axles could get warped.
Car shakes at high speed: Tire issues
Tires are the most common reason your car shakes at high speed. If your vehicle experiences intense shaking after about 60 mph, the reason could be tires that are out of balance. You can tell that the tires are out of balance by checking for flat spots.
Ensure to have such tires balanced out. If they are too damaged, you will have to replace them.
If you do not find flat spots, the pressure could be too low. Check the manual to determine if you have inflated the tires as per the recommended pressure.
Car shaking could also be the result of uneven tire wear and other defects. The vehicle could vibrate at low speeds if the tires have worn out unevenly due to a misalignment. A simple solution is to align the wheels or replace the tires if they are badly damaged.
Car shakes at high speed: Engine problems
The main causes of engine-related vibration are a clogged or dirty fuel filter, spark plugs that are not firing smoothly, or poor fuel/air mixture in the piston. The engine might also shake if it is not getting enough air.
Engine failure is the most uncommon reason for vibration in general while driving. The shuddering comes from the engine and rocks the entire car. You can tell that the engine is the problem if the vibration occurs only when accelerating or after driving for a given period.
All these issues may cause serious engine damage if left unattended. You may also find a check engine light on the dashboard due to this issue. A competent auto technician should check this issue as soon as possible.
Bent or uneven driveshaft and axles
The axles are long rotating shafts that transfer power from the engine transmission system to the wheels. Although they do not get damaged easily, axles may get warped or bent if you hit a bump at high speeds, drive into a ditch, or have a head-on collision.
If either the driveshaft or the axles are bent, you will feel a jostle as you drive and violent vibration as you accelerate, so this could be a reason your car shakes at high speed.
Can uneven brake rotors cause a car to shake?
Yes, uneven brake rotors cause a car to shake. However, the car shakes when you slow it down. You will also notice some rumbling and rubbery smell when slowing down.
This problem is usually caused by damaged or warped rotors that dig into brake pads. Overheating brake rotors are the main cause of rotor warping. Rotors overheat due to regular heavy braking or when you fail to change your brake pads as recommended by the automobile manufacturer.
Warped or damaged brake rotors do not get a proper grip when pads and calipers press against them and may increase stopping distances. Treat the problem as urgent and seek immediate
professional auto repair
.If you can't figure out the exact cause of your car shaking, you'll want to get a mechanic to diagnose the problem for you—and you'll have to make a trip to the mechanic for any of the problems listed above anyway.
When it is time to renew your car insurance policy, visit
Jerry
to check the current prices for the same coverage. The app offers you options with the same or better coverage at lower prices. A team of agents will help you make the right choice.
