Imagine you’re cruising down the road, enjoying your drive when suddenly you hit a bump—and your steering wheel starts to shake.
It’s unsettling, isn’t it?
This jarring experience can be more than just annoying; it might signal deeper issues with your car that need attention.
Whether it’s a misalignment from a pothole you couldn’t swerve to avoid, or wear and tear on your tires that you’ve been meaning to check, a shaking steering wheel should not be ignored.
In this article, we’ll explore why your steering wheel might start shaking after hitting a bump and what you can do to fix it, ensuring a safer and smoother driving experience.
Table of Contents
Why is My Steering Wheel Shaking Whenever I Hit a Curb?
Top culprits are your wheel getting bent, tire being out of balance, or your alignment having some issues. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to get these checked.
To know more, it’s best to read further below:
1. Bent Wheel Rim
If you’ve ever hit a bump or pothole and noticed your steering wheel starts to shake afterward, a bent wheel rim might be the culprit.
When you hit something hard, like a curb or a deep pothole, the impact can bend the metal rim of your wheel. This bend means the wheel isn’t perfectly round anymore, so as it spins, it wobbles. That wobble travels up through your suspension system and ends up shaking your steering wheel, especially at lower speeds.
2. Tire Out of Balance
Your tires need to be balanced to spin smoothly without causing vibrations.
Small weights are attached to your wheel rims to keep everything even. When you hit a bump or pothole, these weights can get knocked off, or the impact might cause the tire to shift slightly on the rim.
This unbalance means the tire doesn’t rotate evenly anymore, leading to vibrations that you feel in the steering wheel, especially at higher speeds. If you notice a fast, vibrating shimmy after hitting a bump, it’s likely due to an unbalanced tire.
3. Wheel Alignment Issues
A big bump can throw off your wheel alignment.
Alignment is all about making sure your wheels are set at the correct angles so your car drives straight and your tires wear evenly. When alignment is off, your vehicle might start pulling to one side, and you’ll notice uneven tire wear.
Over time, misalignment can lead to vibrations that you feel in the steering wheel, especially after hitting more bumps.
4. Worn or Damaged Suspension Parts (Tie Rods and Ball Joints)
If your tie rods are worn, you might notice your steering feels loose or unresponsive, leading to vibrations. Damaged ball joints can let your wheels move in ways they shouldn’t, causing clunking noises and shaking in the steering wheel when you go over bumps.
If these components fail completely, it can be dangerous because you could lose control of your vehicle.
5. Damaged Steering Stabilizer (Dampener)
The steering stabilizer, or dampener, acts like a shock absorber for your steering system, especially in trucks and SUVs. Its job is to reduce vibrations and prevent the steering wheel from shaking when you hit bumps.
When it’s not functioning properly, it can’t smooth out the jolts from bumps in the road, so you feel the steering wheel shake or wobble after hitting a bump.
This isn’t just uncomfortable; it can also make your vehicle harder to control at higher speeds.
6. Damaged CV Joint or Wheel Bearing
Your car’s CV joints and wheel bearings help your wheels turn smoothly and handle properly. Hitting a big bump can damage these parts.
A failing CV joint might cause clicking or ticking noises when you turn, and it can lead to vibrations because power isn’t being transferred smoothly to the wheels. Damaged wheel bearings can create a growling or humming noise and cause the wheel to wobble, resulting in a shaking steering wheel.
These issues often get worse when you go over bumps or make turns. Ignoring them can lead to serious problems, like a wheel seizing up or even loss of control while driving.
7. Worn or Damaged Struts or Strut Mounts
Struts are a key part of your car’s suspension system—they combine a shock absorber and a coil spring to absorb bumps and keep your tires in contact with the road.
The strut mounts connect the struts to your vehicle’s body and often include a bearing that lets the strut turn with the steering. Over time, or after absorbing hard impacts from bumps, struts and their mounts can wear out or get damaged.
Damaged strut mounts can cause clunking noises and misalignment, which further contribute to steering wheel shake.
How to Fix My Shaking Steering Wheel Because of a Bump?
Experiencing a shaking steering wheel after hitting a bump indicates potential issues within your vehicle’s steering or suspension systems. Addressing these problems promptly is essential for your safety and the longevity of your car. Below are possible fixes, each explained in detail to help you resolve this dilemma.
Inspect and Repair
To address the issue of a shaking steering wheel effectively, here are detailed steps for each potential cause identified:
Bent Wheel Rim
A bent wheel rim can cause significant vibrations and should be addressed promptly. Here’s how to fix it:
Visual Inspection: Begin by examining the rim for any visible bends or damage. This can usually be noticed with a naked eye or by using a straight edge to check the alignment.
Repair Techniques:
Position the rim on a flat surface.
Use a rubber mallet or a hammer with a protective piece of wood to gently tap out the bend.
Heat the affected area with a welding torch if necessary, but be careful not to overheat and damage the rim further.
Continuously check the balance and shape by spinning the rim.
Safety Precautions: Wear protective gear such as gloves and safety glasses. Ensure that the workspace is well-ventilated and free from any flammable materials.
Unbalanced tires can cause your steering wheel to vibrate, especially at higher speeds. To rebalance them:
Remove the Wheel: Lift the car with a jack and remove the affected wheel.
Check Balance: Take the wheel to a professional tire shop or use a home balancing kit if available. They will check the wheel balance and adjust it by adding weights.
Reattach the Wheel: Once balanced, reattach the wheel and ensure all lug nuts are tightened properly.
Misalignment can also lead to steering wheel shake. Here’s how to align your wheels:
Check Symptoms: Notice if your car pulls to one side or if the tire wear is uneven.
Alignment Process:
Drive the car onto an alignment rack where laser sensors will assess the wheel angles.
Adjust the camber, toe, and caster angles according to manufacturer specifications.
Test Drive: After alignment, a test drive is crucial to ensure the car drives straight without pulling to either side.
Suspension Parts (Tie Rods and Ball Joints)
Worn suspension components can drastically affect the steering response and cause vibrations.
Inspect for Wear: Check tie rods and ball joints for any play or looseness.
Replacement:
Remove the old tie rods and ball joints.
Install new components, making sure they are tightly secured.
Alignment Check: After replacing suspension parts, a wheel alignment is recommended to ensure the wheels are properly oriented.
Steering Stabilizer
A faulty steering stabilizer can cause the steering wheel to wobble.
Inspect the Stabilizer: Look for signs of fluid leakage or physical damage to the stabilizer.
Replace if Necessary:
Remove the damaged stabilizer.
Install a new one by securing it to the mounting brackets.
Test for Efficiency: Check if the steering response has improved and if the shake has diminished.
CV Joint/Wheel Bearing
Damage to CV joints or wheel bearings can lead to severe steering wheel vibrations.
Diagnosis:
Listen for clicking noises from the CV joints during turning.
Check for play or roughness in the wheel bearings.
Replacement:
Remove the wheel and then the CV joint or bearing.
Replace with new parts and reassemble.
Safety Check: Always ensure that all bolts and nuts are tightened to the manufacturer’s specifications to prevent any further issues.
These are the methods that you can try to fix your steering wheel shaking issue, but really, the next advice we’re going to give is the one that you should follow as soon as possible.
Professional Assistance
Trying some of these repairs at home can work, but sometimes you’ll need special tools and know-how, especially for getting things perfectly aligned or fixing serious damage.
If you’re not totally sure how bad the damage is or feel uncertain about doing the repairs yourself, it’s a good idea to call a mechanic.
They’ll make sure everything’s fixed right and safely, keeping your car running smoothly.
FAQs About Steering Wheel Shaking When Hitting Bumps
Before ending our article, we’ve put together some additional insights on why your steering wheel might shake after hitting a bump, to help you get a better handle on your vehicle’s condition.
Is it safe to drive if my steering wheel shakes after hitting a bump?
It’s generally not safe to keep driving if your steering wheel starts shaking after a bump. This could point to problems with key parts like your suspension or tires, which might make your car hard to control. If this happens, it’s best to have a mechanic take a look as soon as you can to keep things safe on the road.
How much does it typically cost to fix a steering wheel shaking problem?
Costs can vary widely based on what’s wrong. Tire balancing might be on the cheaper end, around $25 to $80, while suspension repairs could go from $150 to $400 or more per part. Getting an exact quote from a mechanic after a thorough check is your best bet to know what you’ll need to spend.
What preventive measures can I take to avoid steering wheel shaking in the future?
Regular maintenance is key. Keep your tires well-inflated, balanced, and rotated, and get your alignment checked at least once a year or whenever you notice handling issues. Also, tackle any small repairs quickly before they turn into bigger, more expensive problems. This proactive approach will help keep your ride smooth and your steering steady.
Conclusion
Our goal here at Smooth Curb is to help you understand the potential dangers of not having a driveway curb—your steering wheel shaking right now could be caused by hitting a dang curb.
Consider checking out our product, Smooth Curb – Driveway Curb Ramp, if you suspect that a curb could be the culprit for this mess.
Not only will you save future headaches, but you’ll also experience a smooth transition in and out of your driveway using our ever-so-reliable curb ramp.
So, in conclusion, by carefully inspecting and addressing these potential issues, you can get rid of that annoying shake in your steering wheel whenever you hit a bump.
Making sure every part is in top shape not only smooths out your drive but also boosts your vehicle’s safety and dependability.
Remember, keeping up with regular maintenance and getting a professional’s opinion on time can stop small issues from turning into big headaches.
Stay on top of your car’s condition—it’s essential for a safe and pleasant driving experience.
We hope that we’ve helped you understand this topic a bit better, and we hope that we’ve helped you solve this issue.
