The Most Comprehensive Analysis of Why Car Shaking While Driving

Shaking of the vehicle body while driving is a common issue that many people encounter, especially with older vehicles, which are more prone to this problem.

Actually, vehicle body shaking doesn’t occur for no reason; it is a signal indicating that the vehicle needs to be checked. Let’s take a look at which parts of the vehicle might be causing the shaking.

1.Car Shaking When Idle

If the vehicle shakes while idling, the following parts might be the cause:

1. Excess Carbon Deposits in the Engine: A dirty throttle valve or excessive carbon deposits in the fuel injectors is one of the most likely causes of vehicle body shaking. When starting the vehicle, the fuel on the carbon deposits gets sucked into the cylinder for combustion. Due to fluctuations in the engine’s combustible mixture, the vehicle will shake during a cold start. Usually, as long as the throttle valve and fuel system are cleaned regularly, this problem can be avoided.

2. Ignition System Malfunction: This is also a key cause of shaking while idling. If the spark plugs, high-voltage wires, or ignition coils are faulty, the vehicle will shake when starting. In this case, you can check whether the spark plugs have excessive carbon deposits, and if needed, replace them with new ones.

3. Unstable Oil Pressure Leading to Shaking: If the fuel pump’s oil pressure is abnormal and the intake pressure sensor value is inaccurate, it can cause shaking. At this point, you can check the oil pressure and, if necessary, replace the parts promptly.

2.Shaking During Driving

1.Vehicle Vibrates When Braking

Shaking while braking during driving is 90% likely caused by uneven wear or deformation of the front brake discs. When the brake disc rotates unevenly, pressing the brake pedal causes the brake pads to grip the uneven disc, resulting in shaking. If the wear on the brake disc is less than 2mm, it can be resurfaced with a lathe. However, if the wear is more severe, it’s not recommended to resurface it, as the disc may become too thin, compromising the vehicle’s braking safety. In this case, it’s best to replace the brake disc entirely.

2.Out-of-Round Rim

Usually, if the tire experiences a strong impact, it can cause the rim to become out of round. This issue is more common with lower-profile tires. Once the rim is out of round, it’s generally not possible to restore it to its original condition. For safety reasons, it’s better to replace the rim with a new one.

3.Tire Imbalance

Some car owners don’t have the habit of balancing their tires when replacing them, which can cause the steering wheel to shake at high speeds. Usually, this can be resolved by getting the tires balanced.

4.Tire Deformation

If you run your hand along the tire tread and feel it’s jagged or notice a significant bulge in a particular area, the tire is deformed. Typically, if a tire is punctured by a sharp object, it can also cause unusual noises and vibrations. In this case, the tire needs to be replaced.

5.Excessive Wear of the Steering Rack Tie Rod Ball Joint

The steering rack tie rod ball joint is a moving part, so some wear is inevitable. However, if the wear is excessive, it can cause inaccurate steering, and the tires may also vibrate at high speeds. In this case, you should take the vehicle to a repair shop for maintenance.

6.Wear of the Steering Rack Mounting Rubber Bushing

This issue is generally rare, but it’s always a good idea to check just in case. It’s easy to spot — a quick observation will suffice. If the steering rack mounting rubber bushing is worn, the steering wheel will shake when turning the wheel.

3.Car Shudders While Driving

If the vehicle experiences a collision or scrapes against hard objects like curbs, stones, etc., the driveshaft bolts may become loose or even fall off. If there’s an issue with the driveshaft, the vibration will become more noticeable when accelerating. At this point, you should have the driveshaft balanced or replaced.

4.Summaries

That’s all for this issue on common causes of vehicle vibration and troubleshooting methods. I hope it helps with your vehicle usage and maintenance. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment, and we can discuss them together. Don’t forget to like and follow if you found this helpful. Thank you so much, and see you in the next issue!