If your car has been around for some time, there is a chance that it develops several problems along the way. One of the usual problems a vehicle owner encounters is shaking or vibration. It starts with subtle vibrations and gradually worsens overtime.
This problem may annoy most of the drivers as vibrations may appear when speeding up. With this, it is essential to find immediate resolution for this issue. While it is recommended to seek assistance from auto-repair professionals, you can do the initial diagnosis for car shaking issues.
The shaking may be due to common car damages such as issues in tire rotation, radiator fan, axle, drive-shaft, etc. The fixes for some of these can be simple and cheap. Nevertheless, for major problems, it is recommended to acquire services from auto-repair professionals.
Common Car Problems That Causes Shaking When Accelerating
There are times when cars shake when accelerating. There could be several issues which may cause such action. It is pertinent to identify the issues to prevent further damage and potential accidents.
Here are some of the vehicle parts you can check to identify the source of the vibration. These are just some of the common problem areas that you can look into. However, if you need further assistance, you can get help from professionals.
Tires
Most often than not, the tires are the main reason vehicles shake upon accelerating. It is pertinent to look into them first before anything else. You need to check if the tires are attached firmly to the wheels. Loose tires do not only cause shaking but it may also risk your safety due to potential accidents.
On the other hand, another issue that can cause vibrations is unbalanced tires. Unbalanced or misaligned tires may be due to bad installation or worn out part of the tread. This also causes your vehicle to stray away from straight driving. With this, it is important to address this issue immediately.
Bent Axle
A bent axle may cause serious vibration or shaking. The shaking happens especially when you speed up. It is recommended to check the state of your axle immediately.
Some of the sources of bent axle are fender-benders, road bumps and worn out joint. Should you encounter any of these, your axle may be the reason your car shakes upon acceleration.
Stuck Caliper for Brakes
Having a caliper stuck in breaks is not a common scene. Nevertheless, it may happen. Once your vehicle reaches 40 miles per hour, the caliper starts to vibrate.
The shaking worsens as you increase your speed more. Aside from the vibration, you can also potentially smell a burnt odor.
Issues in U-joints or Rear Drive Shaft
You may encounter one or both of these issues as source of the shaking. It is important to remove your drive shift to feel the movement of the joint. The rough patches shall be felt as it magnifies when you’re running the engine.
You can also look out for any rust build-up around the area of grease seal. You can visually diagnose the U-joint upon checking the disappearance of grease. The rust may eliminate the grease causing your vehicle to shake.
Loose Components of the Steering System
There are a number of parts in your steering system that may wear out over time. It happens gradually that it causes subtle vibrations at first before it worsens.
As there are several steering components that connect to your wheel, once these parts wear out, you ay experience shaking and vibration. Your wheels will no longer function as you instruct it to do.
Damaged Radiator Fan
Your engine can still operate even with a broken or cracked radiator fan. Nevertheless, it causes your vehicle to shake when speeding up.
As you start your vehicle, the radiator fan begins to turn. If there is something hampering it from turning, it just teeters. This wobbling action, upon acceleration, may shake your car from side to side.
Image by Robert Knight
Bad Motor Mount
Engine or motor mounts keep your vehicle’s engine in the correct placement. These parts are made from rubber and metal. The rubber part of the mount is in charge of absorbing the vibrations.
The mounts wear overtime. Once the metal part no longer provide support in the engine, the rubber will not absorb the vibrations anymore. This will cause your car to shake or vibrate.
Power Steering Concerns
If the vibration occurs due to issues in power steering, there are noticeable leaks in the steering system’s hose. You may also check the power steering level of the fluid if it’s topping off.
Your car’s behavior depends on the state that it is in. As it receives irregular maintenance and ages with time, it may start to vibrate or shake as you accelerate. Nonetheless, there are also several internal problems that may lead to this.
As a responsible vehicle owner, it is essential to take immediate action should you identify several parts that are malfunctioning. These damaged parts could be the reason your vehicle starts to shake upon acceleration.
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Resolving Car Shaking or Vibrations
It is important to investigate the reason you are encountering shaking or vibrations when accelerating. You may discover several problems that cause this which can potentially initiate accidents. You can initially diagnose your vehicle by looking into some parts that may contribute to the vibrations.
Once you have discovered the source of the vibration, you can have your vehicle repaired from a trusted professional. For minor issues, you can expect a few days in the repair shop. Nevertheless, major problems should be dealt with in a serious manner. It may take a long time to repair this, but it will restore the health of your vehicle.
Keeping your vehicle in good shape should be your number one priority. Shaking or vibrations can be distracting to most drivers. Thus, immediate resolution should be done. Not only will your car run smoothly, but you are also guaranteed safety. This will eliminate the risk of road accidents caused by damaged or problematic vehicle parts.
