Last Updated on May 11, 2019 by themechanic
Out of all the possible problems that could happen to a vehicle, the most common problems are wheel or tire issues. There are two reasons as to why this is the case. First, tires are only made from rubber, so they’re certainly susceptible to getting damaged quite easily. Second, tires are always touching and moving on the ground. There could be all sorts of hard objects and materials on the pavement that you won’t even see as you’re driving. If your tires were to hit these objects, it could possibly make them go flat or wear out their treads. As for the wheels, they can have mechanical issues too based on the driving conditions that you normally subject them to.
The risk of getting low tire pressure or a flat tire isn’t all you need to worry about. When your tires or wheels start to get worn out, you will feel vibrations and hear noises. As the components in the wheel areas get worse, the vibrations and noises will get worse too. However, you can at least consider the vibrations and noises as early warning signs that something is wrong with your tires or wheels. The best thing you can do at this point is to investigate the problem and see where the cause lies.
The Top 4 Causes
Below are the top 4 causes of noises and vibrations in the wheel areas. You should investigate each possible cause and see if it pertains to the problem in your vehicle. Chances are, one of these causes will match up with what you’re experiencing.
1) Tires
Tires are the number one cause of vibrations and noises from the wheel area. Things like low air pressure and worn out treads can easily cause these symptoms. If you don’t fill your tires with air or replace them if the treads are bad, then your vehicle will vibrate intensely as you accelerate faster. You may even have just one tire with a bad tread, but that’s enough to cause these driving issues.
2) Wheels
The steering system is what controls and turns your wheels. Every time you rotate the steering wheel, it causes your wheels to rotate in that direction. This concept should be pretty straightforward. There are several components which are responsible for linking the wheels to the steering system. Any of these components could cause the symptoms in question. However, as mentioned above, a problem directly in the wheel area is likely the reason. Check the wheel bearings to see if they’re in good shape or not. Also, check your tie rod ends and ball joints too. If any of these components look like they’re worn out or damaged, then you need to replace them in order to eliminate the vibrations and noises.
3) Axle
If you have an axle that is damaged, your tires will vibrate intensely no matter how fast you drive. It is unusual to have a damaged axle without getting into a car accident. So, if you’ve been in an accident recently and then you experience shaking as you drive, then it is likely the axle’s fault. This could even happen from a minor accident that is not even that serious.
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- 5 Types of Constant-Velocity (CV) Joints
- 4 Different Types of Differentials (and Working Principles)
- What Happens if You Put Gasoline in a Diesel Engine?
4) Brakes
Do the vibrations and noises occur when you step on the brake pedal? If so, then your brake pads and brake rotors may have issues. These are the components responsible for slowing down your vehicle when you step on the brake pedal. They get worn down each time you apply the brakes. Eventually, the friction material on the brake pads will wear down too much and cause a lot of friction when they rub against the rotors. That is why the vibrations and noises occur.
