Why Does My Car Shake At High Speeds?

why-does-my-car-shake-at-high-speeds

If there is something wrong with your car, you may notice it beginning to shake and wonder “Why Does My Car Shake At High Speeds?”. Well, chances are it begins shaking at lower speeds, but becomes more noticeable as speed increases.

Tire Problems

The most common answer to “Why Does My Car Shake At High Speeds?” is a tire issue. Imbalanced tires tend to become most noticeable on the highway, due to the speed they’re rotating at. Tire balance isn’t the only concern, though. Wear patterns (like cupping) and alignment issues can also contribute to a vibration.

Why Does My Car Shake At High Speeds? – Engine Problems

Usually more noticeable at idle, but engine problems can also create a shake or vibration at high speeds. Maintenance issues like Worn Spark Plugs, Dirty Air Filters, upstream Oxygen Sensors or a poorly performing Mass Air Flow Sensor can create a condition where the engine isn’t able to fire every time it needs to (known as a misfire) and it begins to vibrate instead of running smoothly.

These conditions will usually also come with a “check engine” or “service engine soon” light, but not always.

Driveline Issues

Issues with the axles, driveshafts, or other components can also make your car shake at high speeds in the same way that unbalanced tires will. A worn u-joint, carrier bearing, or damaged axle or driveshaft can create a vibration effect that gets worse as speed (and rpm) increases.

Whatever the cause of shaking may be, it’s important not to drive your car for long without having it inspected. The vibration or its cause could create costly further damages.

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