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- Symptoms Without Summary
- Car Leaking Coolant
- AC Isn't Cooling
- AC Blowing Hot Air
- Shaking While Driving
- Overheating AC
- AC Smells Like Vinegar
- Heater Not Working
- Windshield Wipers Don't Work
- Car Leaking Water
- Car Leaking Red Fluid
- Car Battery Leaking
- AC Only Work Sometimes
- Shaking While Idle
- Shaking At High Speeds
- Evap System Leak
- Shaking While Braking At High Speeds
- Shaking When Stopped
- Shaking When Accelerating
- Radiator Leaking
- Pink Fluid Leaking
- Car Leaking Oil
- AC Not Working.
- Car Leaking Gas
- Power Steering Fluid Leak
- Bad Brake Caliper
Hey, Why Is My Car Shaking At High Speeds?
If you are short on time and want to fast-track the process to professional help, click Yes
Is Your Car Shaking At High Speeds?
It’s shaking at high speeds because of a wheel or steering-related problem. In most cases, it’s a bad wheel bearing, unbalanced tires, damaged wheel, or faulty u-joint(drive line component).
A car shaking at high speed is uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Therefore, it's crucial to address this issue promptly to prevent any accidents or damage to your car.
To ensure your safety and prevent any further damage, it's recommended to take your car for a vehicle health inspection. By addressing the vibrating car problem, you can ensure that your vehicle is safe and reliable to drive at all speeds.
Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!
- The wheel bearings help the wheels spin smoothly and stay upright in your car. However, they can ...read more
The wheel bearings help the wheels spin smoothly and stay upright in your car. However, they can wear out over time and start causing some problems. If you have a worn-out wheel bearing, the wheel becomes harder to spin and feels rough. This can make the car shake or vibrate when you're driving. You might also notice noise from the wheel bearing, especially when turning the car at high speeds.
- Ensuring your car's tires have the right air amount is essential. If you put too much air in the ...read more
Ensuring your car's tires have the right air amount is essential. If you put too much air in the tires (this is called "overinflating"), it can cause problems. The tire won't be able to grip the road as well, and it could bounce like a basketball. This bouncing makes the car vibrate at high speeds and wears out the middle of the tire faster than the edges.
- When driving, the tires always wear down slightly. As the tires wear down, they become unbalanced...read more
When driving, the tires always wear down slightly. As the tires wear down, they become unbalanced, so they don't spin as smoothly as they did. When a tire is unstable, it can bounce up and down on the road while driving. This bouncing can cause the tread on the tire to become uneven, which is called "cupping." When a tire is unbalanced for too long, it causes the car to shake when going around 50 miles per hour or faster. The shaking can worsen the quicker you go.
- When changing a tire on a car, it's essential to ensure the lug nuts are correctly tight. The lug...read more
When changing a tire on a car, it's essential to ensure the lug nuts are correctly tight. The lug nuts are the screw-like things that hold the wheel onto the car. However, tightening them too much can stretch the metal studs that the lug nuts screw onto. This can weaken the studs, and they might break off while you're driving, which is dangerous! But if you don't tighten the lug nuts enough, they might become loose, and the wheel could wobble or shake when driving at high speeds. This wobbling can make the car vibrate, posing safety risks and uncomfortable rides.
- You might accidentally hit a curb or a big pothole when driving, damaging the edge of the vehicle...read more
You might accidentally hit a curb or a big pothole when driving, damaging the edge of the vehicle's wheel. This makes the wheel not spin perfectly round anymore, even wobbling it slightly. In this case, the vibrations will predominantly come from the damaged wheel.
- The U-joint helps the driveshaft spin so the wheels can turn. It comprises little needle bearings...read more
The U-joint helps the driveshaft spin so the wheels can turn. It comprises little needle bearings, an outer cup, and an inner yolk. Over time, these parts can wear down and get loose, causing your car to shake. You might feel this shaking in your seat while you're driving. As the U-joint wears more, you might notice its lubrication grease seeping out.
Find Professional Help
Please select your vehicle's brand and location so we can locate the best professional help for youVehicle Health Inspection Proof
Explore the following typical inspection results that show a potential cause for the symptom and select the one you believe is similar to your vehicle's issue.
Bad wheel bearing
Faulty u-joint
Loose lug nuts
Worn tire
Damaged wheel
Unbalanced tires
The proof image shows a technique for testing for a bad wheel bearing - pushing in on the top and bottom of the tire to check for movement.
A customer brought their vehicle in and complained about a rough or growling noise coming from the front of the car. They mentioned the noise got louder when turning to the left.
During the test drive, the technician verified a noise from the right front wheel bearing, which increased when turning left.
As part of the vehicle health inspection, the technician closely examined the right front wheel bearing. They found the bearing was making a loud growling noise when spinning the wheel. Additionally, they observed some looseness when pushing the top and bottom of the wheel.
Based on their inspection, the technician determined that the right front wheel bearing assembly needed to be replaced. This will help eliminate the harsh or growling noise coming from the front of the vehicle and ensure it is safe to drive.
1/6
The proof image shows the loose U-joint slinging grease and causing the high-speed shake that the customer felt in the seat.
A customer dropped off their vehicle and reported feeling a growing vibration in the seat when driving 60 mph or higher.
During a test drive, the technician confirmed a vibration from the vehicle's center. However, during a health inspection of the car, nothing seemed to relate to the customer's concern.
To further diagnose the issue, the technician had an assistant start the vehicle and put it in gear while suspended on a lift. Next, the technician had the assistant accelerate to 60 mph while they observed the vibration of the drive shaft. Finally, the technician caught that one of the U-joints on the rear drive shaft was loose and slinging grease.
The technician then had the assistant stop the vehicle and put it in "park." Then, the technician manipulated the U-joints on the rear drive shaft and confirmed looseness and play in the rear U-joint at the differential.
Due to the age and wear of both U-joints, the technician recommended replacing them to resolve the issue.
2/6
The proof image shows the damage to the wheel and lug nuts resulting from loose lug nuts.
When the customer brought their car in, they mentioned that they had recently rotated their tires at a shop while on a road trip because a warning light had come on. However, on their way back, they noticed that the car was shaking and vibrating at higher speeds on the highway.
During the test drive, the technician found a vibration from the right front wheel. As a result, they did not go on a very long test drive.
Upon further inspection, the technician discovered that two studs (the bolts that secure the wheel to the hub) had sheared off, and the remaining lug nuts were loose. However, the other three wheels were tight and did not appear over-tightened.
To properly assess the damage, the technician removed all four wheels and discovered that the right front wheel had been damaged due to the lug nuts not being correctly torqued. As a result, the damaged studs and the wheel will need to be replaced.
3/6
The proof image shows how over-inflated tires can cause wear down in the middle, making it dangerous and leading to additional damage to the vehicle.
A customer dropped off their vehicle, concerned about a very high-speed vibration they noticed. Additionally, they mentioned that the tires on the car were wearing out.
During the test drive, the technician confirmed a slight tire vibration when the car reached about 68 mph. The shaking was noticeable in both the steering wheel and the seat.
After a vehicle health inspection, the technician found that the tires were over-inflated, according to the door sticker. Additionally, all four tires had worn down the tread in the center. This wear pattern is consistent with over-inflation and can lead to dangerous driving conditions.
Based on their findings, the technician recommends that all four tires be replaced and inflated to the pressure specified in the door placard. They also recommend a four-wheel alignment, to avoid uneven tire wear and improve handling.
4/6
In the proof image, you can see the damage to the wheel and tire that caused the wheel to bend, leading to the high-speed shake. This affects various wheel items, like the ball joints, which also contribute to shaking at high speeds.
A customer dropped off their vehicle and told the technician there was a high-speed shake coming from the right front wheel. During the test drive, the technician confirmed that a shake came from the right front wheel at higher speeds.
During the vehicle health inspection, the technician noticed that the right front wheel was scuffed badly about a third of the way around the rim. To investigate further, the technician took the wheel and tire off the vehicle and put it on the balancer to diagnose the problem. They found that the wheel was bent, causing the vibrations.
The customer mentioned that a relative borrowed the car and accidentally struck a pothole while driving. The technician confirmed that this was the probable cause of the bent wheel.
The technician recommended replacing the right front wheel. To confirm, the technician replaced the right front wheel with a spare and drove the car. Finally, the high-speed vibration was gone.
5/6
The proof image shows the wear pattern on a tire that was improperly balanced.
A customer dropped off their car and said it started shaking at around 50 miles per hour, worsening as they went faster.
During the test drive, the technician noticed a vibration around 55 miles per hour, which worsened as they drove faster. Based on this, the technician thought the tire balance might be at fault.
During the vehicle health inspection, the technician found the tires were cupping, meaning the outer edges of the tires were wearing down faster than the middle. This happened because the tires were not balanced properly, causing them to vibrate and wear down unevenly.
Because the tires were so severely worn down and cupped, the technician recommends replacing all four tires. This will ensure the vehicle runs smoothly and safely without shaking or vibration.
6/6Typical Fixes to Address the Cause(s)
The following chapters bases themselves on experiences from our auto repair shop; we'll describe related problems' causes and fixes.
The AutoTechIQ ranking for Safety, Cost Avoidance, and Environmental Impact is
Vehicle Symptoms
Below are just a few examples of typical Symptoms and Fixes your car might be experiencing
Other things your auto repair shop might talk about:
Car shaking high speeds. Car shakes. Spark plugs. Brake pads. Car vibrates. Car vibrating. Brake pedal. Car vibrations. Steering wheel shakes. Car wheels. brake rotors. tie rod ends. bent axle. dirty spark plugs. motor mounts. brake discs.