Why Does My Car Shake At High Speeds?

Well, this could be scary. You hit 60 or 70 ish miles an hour and all of a sudden you're getting a lot of feedback in the steering wheel. The car no longer feels safe on the road. Let's run through the possibilities.

WHEEL BALANCING ISSUES: If your wheels are not properly balanced, it can cause vibrations, especially at higher speeds. This is often a common cause of shaking and can usually be fixed by having the wheels balanced by a mechanic.

TIRE PROBLEMS: Damaged, uneven, or improperly inflated tires can cause shaking. Worn-out or uneven tread can create imbalances, leading to vibrations. Additionally, if your tires are not inflated to the proper pressure, it can cause shaking.

SUSPENSION. Your suspension components wear over time. Many of these components contain rubber and grease and therefore need to be replaced when worn. If your suspension is worn it will also be causing tire wear.

ALIGNMENT. All of the suspension components need to live together in harmony (in alignment) in order to drive straight down the road. Photo from https://www.wapcar.my/news/wheel-alignment--what-is-camber-caster-and-toe-2645 

STEERING. Usually for cars, there is a part called the rack and pinion. For bigger vehicles, there are a couple different types of steering set-ups. All steering setups have components that wear (usually joints or bushings, or seals). This can cause feedback in the steering wheel if any of these components are loose or worn.

The above are the most likely culprits, however there are a couple other systems that could be responsible:

PREVIOUS DAMAGE. If you had previously had repairs performed (if the car had been in an accident) it could be possible that you have damage that hasn't been repaired.

BRAKE PROBLEMS: If your brake rotors are warped or damaged, you may notice shaking when braking at high speeds. This is usually more noticeable when slowing down but can also cause general vibrations.

DRIVETRAIN OR AXLE PROBLEMS: If there is an issue with the drivetrain or axles, such as a bent axle, worn-out CV joints, or a damaged driveshaft, the car may shake, especially during acceleration at high speeds.

ENGINE PROBLEMS: If the engine is not running smoothly, it can cause the car to shake. This could be due to issues like misfiring spark plugs, a clogged fuel filter, or other engine-related problems.

WHEEL BEARINGS: Worn or damaged wheel bearings can also cause vibrations. This is usually accompanied by a humming or grinding noise from the affected wheel.

Make sure you feel safe on the road and start with the easiest and most important thing first! Your TIRES!