Why does the steering wheel hit: problems and solutions

Many motorists have encountered steering wheel beats. The steering wheel can vibrate in different ways and in different situations - during acceleration or braking, in motion or when the engine is idling. Vibrations can appear in one mode and be completely absent in another. Do not underestimate such symptoms, because it is not only the discomfort that they cause, but also the reasons that give rise to them. The reasons may be different, some of them are related to driving safety. Let's try to figure out why this phenomenon occurs and how to deal with it.

Steering wheel shaking at engine idle

If the engine is unstable, its vibrations can be transmitted to the steering wheel. In the simplest case, it is worth trying to change the candles.

But more often, the rudder beats at idle are due to loose or damaged pillows of the power unit, and they can increase in motion. This often happens in cars with solid mileage. If the engine was removed for repair and after that the steering wheel began to vibrate when idling, then you need to check the correct installation of the unit, tighten the fasteners, and replace the worn fasteners.

Another possible cause of such symptoms is the deformation of the steering rack drive shaft or the wear of its splined part. The shaft cannot be repaired, so the only solution is to replace it.

Steering wheel vibrates while accelerating and driving

Steering wheel vibration during acceleration and during movement can be caused by a number of reasons, which often overlap. A symptom often appears in one range of speeds and disappears in another.

1. It is logical to start the diagnosis with the simplest. Unevenly inflated or under-inflated tires are quite capable of causing the steering wheel to shake even at relatively low speeds. The situation is corrected by inflating the tires in accordance with the pressure indicated by the manufacturer.

2. But most often the culprits are unbalanced masses, which, when the wheel rotates, cause vibrations that are transmitted to the steering wheel.

It can be mud or snow, so the first thing you should do is wash the wheels well, paying special attention to their inside. Cleaning the wheels usually fixes the problem if it occurs at low speeds.

3. If the steering wheel began to vibrate after repairing or changing tires, then the wheels were probably not properly balanced. Balancing can also be disturbed during operation if the balancing weights have fallen off. This is especially noticeable at medium and high speeds. The problem cannot be ignored, as the tires will wear out unevenly, and in some cases, damage to the suspension elements may occur. Wheel bearings are especially vulnerable in this situation. Therefore, you will have to visit the tire shop again, where you will be balanced using a special stand.

4. Due to a strong impact when hitting a pit or a curb, defects in the form of bumps or the so-called hernia may occur on the tire. Yes, and initially defective tires are not so rare. In this case, even with perfect balancing, oscillations will occur in the wheel, which will be felt in the steering wheel. Most likely, the beats will be noticeable only in some limited range of speeds. The problem is solved by replacing tires.

5. If the car flew into a pothole, the case may not be limited to tire damage. It is possible that the wheel disk is deformed from the impact. And this can also cause the steering wheel to beat while driving. Moreover, with an increase in the speed of vibration, they can also move to the body of the machine.

Disk deformation can occur not only due to impact, but also as a result of a sharp temperature drop. Finally, you may fall victim to a bad market purchase. Curvature is not always noticeable to the eye. Typically, tire shops have special equipment that will help solve the problem with a deformed disc. But if it is skewed too much, it will have to be replaced.

6. When installing non-original rims, it may turn out that the holes on the rim and the bolts on the wheel hub do not exactly match. Then the disk will dangle slightly, causing vibrations that will be given off by beating on the steering wheel. The solution to the problem can be the use of special centering rings.

7. Incorrectly tightened wheel bolts can also cause vibration to be felt on the handlebars. Usually the problem is not very noticeable when driving slowly and begins to manifest itself with increasing speed. Before tightening the bolts and nuts with a conical base, it is necessary to hang the wheel and evenly tighten, alternating opposite diameters.

The most dangerous option is an insufficiently tightened wheel mount. The result may be that at one not at all perfect moment the wheel will simply fall off. What this can lead to even at a moderate speed, no need to explain to anyone.

8. The steering wheel may tremble while driving also due to wear and tear on various parts of the suspension and steering. Tie rod play can affect very low speeds. Worn steering rack bushings will show up on rough roads. And faulty CV joints or silent blocks of the front levers will make themselves felt in turns, and the entire body of the car can vibrate. In this situation, one cannot do without disassembling and inspecting the suspension, and faulty parts will need to be replaced.

Vibrations during braking

If the steering wheel vibrates exclusively during braking, then the brake disc (drum) or pads are most likely to blame, less often the brake mechanism (caliper or piston).

The disk—or, more rarely, the drum—can warp due to sudden temperature changes. This is possible if, for example, a disk overheated as a result of emergency braking cools down sharply when the wheel hits an ice puddle.

The working surface of the disc will become wavy, and the friction of the pad will cause vibrations that will be felt on the steering wheel. In most cases, the only solution to the problem is to replace the brake discs. If the degree of wear and deformation of the disk is small, then you can try to make a groove.

A vibrating steering wheel is not just a factor of discomfort. In many cases, it signals the presence of problems that require urgent attention. If you do not postpone their decision indefinitely, then there is a high probability that everything will cost relatively inexpensive repairs and will not lead to serious consequences. Otherwise, the problems will get worse and will lead to other troubles.