Why Is My Steering Wheel Shaking?

If you notice yourself researching, “My steering wheel shakes” to find the culprit, the most common reason is due to the alignment of your tires. If your tires are unbalanced, this can cause the wheels to make your steering wheel vibrate, and sometimes even the whole car when you are navigating the roads of Providence.

There can be other issues that cause the steering wheel to shake while driving or braking. Learn more about this issue, and feel free to contact our team at Mercedes-Benz of Warwick if you have questions or would like to schedule a service appointment.

My Steering Wheel Shakes: 5 Potential Causes

There are five common reasons why your steering wheel is shaking while you’re braking throughout your East Greenwich drives. Each of them can be due to different issues. Take the time to focus on what you notice with your vehicle as the problem arises:

• Misalignment: Like with unbalanced wheels, improper positioning of your vehicle’s wheels can cause this issue. If you avoid obstacles like potholes and you drive over railroad tracks slowly to avoid damage, then misalignment is less likely to be the issue. It’s easy to tell when it is as you’ll notice the tread on the tires is uneven.
• Bad bearings: If there is damage or not enough lubrication to keep these bearings working properly, they will cause friction which explains the shaking of your steering wheel. However, this only causes the wheel to shake when turning. Most times a simple cleaning of the bearings can help, but if there’s damage, they’ll need to be replaced and that can typically cost up to $430 including labor costs.
• Unbalanced wheels: The weight placement of your tires is important. If the weight isn’t distributed evenly when the tire is put on, you’ll feel the vehicle vibrating. This is more likely the case in vehicles with lightweight suspension systems. If this isn’t resolved, you could have future issues with the shocks, struts, and other steering components. Simply bring your vehicle into the dealership and have the wheels checked and repositioned.
• Suspension issues: If parts are worn, loose, or the driveshaft is imbalanced, this could be the cause. Though these are simple fixes, they aren’t fixes to hold off on. Don’t wait to have these parts fixed, as it could cause more damage.
• Brake issues: If you notice your steering wheel shakes when slowing down, the issue lies within your brakes. Worn brake pads, defective brake discs, and even worn shocks can be the cause. Brake pads are also an easy replacement but can cost up to $300 per axle depending on where you have your vehicle serviced.

Get Your Vehicle Serviced at Mercedes-Benz of Warwick Today!

After exploring the reasons your steering wheel is shaking, you can bring your new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz vehicle into our Warwick service center near Cranston to have it properly serviced. When you inform our staff, “My steering wheel shakes,” we will cover all the areas where this issue could be presented, so you have nothing to worry about! Schedule your service appointment online today!