Why is My Steering Wheel Shaking?

One of the most common reasons New Castle buyers come to our service center is that their steering wheel is shaking. If you tell us, “My steering wheel shakes while driving,” we’ll look into it. The most common reason this can occur is due to the alignment of your tires.

If your vehicle’s tires are unbalanced, this can cause your wheels to make your steering wheel vibrate and sometimes even the entire car. Yet there are multiple other reasons your steering wheel might be shaking. Learn more below and check out our service specials before scheduling your next appointment.

Five Causes of a Vibrating Steering Wheel

Why is my steering wheel shaking? There are five common reasons this can occur with your vehicle. Each of them alludes to different problems your vehicle could be having. Pay close attention to them and be sure to have your car checked out to make sure these problems don’t get any worse:

• 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.
• Misalignment: Like with unbalanced wheels, improper positioning of your vehicle’s wheels can cause this issue. If you avoid obstacles like potholes and 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.
• 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. Waiting to have these parts fixed could cause more damage.
• Brake Problems: 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.

Bring Your Vehicle Into Our Service Center at Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington!

When you tell our team, “My steering wheel shakes,” we’ll look into everything to determine the cause. At Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington, you have a dedicated group of service technicians, here to keep your car operating at peak performance. 

Contact us online or call to speak to one of our staff. You can also order genuine Mercedes-Benz parts from our dealership when you need to replace worn-out pieces. Keep your vehicle running well near Newark with Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington!