Causes of car vibration

If your car vibrates while driving, don't panic. Understand the causes below to avoid being ripped off by auto repair shops.

Buying a used car at this time might be a good option, given the high and constantly fluctuating taxes on new cars in Vietnam. However, buying a used car means you should be prepared for common car problems. One of the most common issues is vibration while driving.

There are five main causes behind this shaking:

Engine problems

Sometimes you hear a vibration coming from the engine compartment. This is because the engine is not receiving enough air, fuel, or spark to run smoothly.

Symptoms that indicate an engine-related problem:

1. The car vibrates or jerks when accelerating.

2. Shake in intermittent bursts within a specific speed range.

3. The car starts and runs well for a while and then begins to shake.

4. Unusual vibrations could be a sign of engine malfunction.

These symptoms may indicate that it's time to replace your spark plugs. If the spark plugs are still good, you may need to check the spark plug wires to ensure they are connected in the correct order or replace them if damaged.

Finally, a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter can cause the engine to constantly be "starved" of air and fuel. Therefore, you need to replace these parts within the time frame recommended by the manufacturer.

Problem with the axle

A car is a unified whole consisting of many parts that move both linearly and rotationally within a certain measured range and allowable tolerance to ensure smooth operation. If an axle is bent, the risk of collision increases significantly. When there is an axle problem, the car will vibrate according to your driving speed. The higher the speed, the more intense the vibration.

Another related detail that needs checking is the driveshaft. The driveshaft's job is to quickly transfer some of the power to the rear axle and wheels in a rear-wheel drive system. If the driveshaft is deformed, vibrations will naturally occur.

Worn constant velocity joints are also a cause of abnormal behavior. If the rubber covering the outside of the steering shaft end, in its pleated form, is intact, the clamp is secure, and there is no lubricant leakage, you can rest assured that there is no problem. But if the covering is torn, dirt can easily penetrate and damage the joints. For front-wheel drive vehicles, damaged constant velocity joints mean you will need to buy a new steering shaft.

Brake problems

Uneven axles can cause a lot of vibrations, but the really bad vibrations only appear and increase with the intensity of braking. If this is the case, there's a very high chance that your car has one or more warped brake discs. The most easily recognizable sign of this is sudden shaking and loss of steering control when braking. When the brake pedal is pressed, the pedal vibrates and bounces slightly. The more force applied, the stronger the vibration. The driver will also feel the steering wheel vibrate.

Brake discs are the easily recognizable, shiny silver components of a vehicle's disc brake system. The working conditions of brake discs and brake pads are extremely harsh: their surfaces accumulate many impurities, and high temperatures and sudden changes easily cause deformation and uneven wear. Studies show that wheel slippage and vibration are caused by worn or cracked brakes, severely reducing braking performance.

Essentially, the effects of wear and tear don't affect all brake discs, and the deformation occurs unevenly. Warped brake discs are raised and lowered on a portion of their surface. The brake caliper and damper cannot function properly with a deformed brake disc. And therefore, vibration occurs.

If you can't fix it yourself with a wrench, you need to contact a professional mechanic to assess the condition of the brake discs or drums.

The wheel wobbles.

Typically, you'll feel the vibrations directly through the steering wheel. Automotive experts advise against just checking inside the cabin; instead, assess the problem from underneath the vehicle.

One or more wheels may be overused and wobble from the center. Diagnosing and addressing this problem is quite complex because it involves multiple underlying issues. The solution for a vibrating wheel is to replace the bearings. On most modern vehicles, bearings help extend the lifespan of the car. If you subject your vehicle to harsher-than-normal operating conditions such as off-road driving or highway driving, the bearings will wear out quickly.

One thing to consider is eccentricity. This term describes the degree to which a wheel deviates from its perfect rotational trajectory due to centrifugal force. Technicians will use a sophisticated measuring instrument to determine the extent of the wheel's deviation from its trajectory. If the result exceeds 1.5 cm, you need to replace the wheel.

Additionally, wheel wobble can also be caused by wear and tear on the tie rods and driveshafts from prolonged high-speed operation, leading to vibrations.

Tire problems

Tires contribute to vehicle vibration in several ways. Here are some of the most common:

1. Vehicle vibration at certain speeds requires tire balancing.

2. If the rubber layer on the tire surface is peeling off, you need to replace the tire.

3. Uneven tire wear requires regular tire rotation.

4. Tire rotation and uneven rolling require replacement.

According to VNN