A common cause for your steering wheel to jerk or shake side to side is related to your vehicle's tires.
Based on expert information, tires that are out of balance are the most frequent reason you might experience a shaking steering wheel. When tires are unbalanced, they don't spin smoothly, which can cause vibrations that travel through your vehicle and are felt strongly in the steering wheel as a jerking or shaking motion.
Understanding Tire Balance and Its Effects
Tire balancing ensures that the weight is evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the tire and wheel assembly. Over time, or after maintenance like patching a tire, the weight distribution can become uneven.
Here's how unbalanced tires can lead to a jerking steering wheel:
- Uneven Rotation: An unbalanced tire wobbles or vibrates as it rotates, especially at higher speeds.
- Vibration Transmission: This vibration is transmitted through the suspension system to the steering column.
- Steering Wheel Movement: The transmitted vibrations cause the steering wheel to shake or jerk side to side.
Other Potential Causes (Beyond the Scope of the Reference)
While tire balance is the most common reason mentioned, other issues can also cause steering wheel jerking. These might include:
- Alignment problems
- Worn suspension components
- Brake issues (especially when braking)
However, the primary and most common culprit for a general side-to-side jerking motion, particularly noticeable at certain speeds, is often the tires themselves needing balance.
How to Address the Issue
If you suspect your steering wheel is jerking due to unbalanced tires:
- Check Tire Pressure: Ensure all tires are inflated to the correct pressure.
- Inspect Tires: Look for obvious signs of wear, damage, or bulges.
- Get Tires Balanced: Visit a mechanic or tire shop to have your tires checked and balanced. This involves spinning the wheel on a balancing machine to identify heavy spots and adding small weights to counteract them.
Addressing tire balance is a routine part of vehicle maintenance and is typically a straightforward process that can significantly improve your driving comfort and safety.
