Is It Safe To Drive If Your Car Shakes?
You’re driving along and suddenly you feel your car start to shake. It’s a feeling that can be alarming, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it. But is it safe to drive if your car shakes? Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why your car might shake and find out.
Is Car Shake Safe?
If your car shakes then something is wrong. If something is wrong with your car then, by definition, the safety is compromised. So no, your car is not as safe as it could be.
The question now is, how unsafe is your car? Is it OK for your commute? It’s it safe enough to even drive to the mechanic and get it fixed? Or maybe it’s safe enough that you never have to worry about is, so long as you don’t have any distance races coming up. It alls depends on the car, the usage, and the specific problem!
My Car Shakes At High Speeds
A common condition with cars is that they shake or “jutter” at high speeds (the definitely of “high” will vary based on what’s wrong with the car).
Reason One: The Tires
One of the most common reasons why your car might shake is because of a problem with the tires. If your tires are unbalanced or have uneven wear, it can cause them to shake as you’re driving. Another possibility is that your tires are low on air pressure, which can also cause shaking. If you suspect that either of these might be the case, the best thing to do is to pull over and check your tires as soon as possible.
Reason Two: The Suspension
Another possible reason for shaking could be something called “suspension wobble.” This usually happens when there’s a problem with one of the suspension components, like a shock absorber, tie-rods or steering stabilizer. Suspension wobble can be very dangerous, so if you think this might be the issue, it’s important to get your car to a mechanic right away or even have the car towed there if you see it mis-steering at lower speeds.
Reason Three: The Wheels
If you have damage or significant wear to your wheel bearings, ball joints or even the axle, then the car might see jotter.
You might think about looking at the brakes, but you’d know if something was wrong with them: the shaking would only happen when braking, not simply when speeding up.
Reason Four: Miscellaneous Factors
Finally, another possibility is that your engine mounts have failed. Engine mounts are what keep your engine securely in place, so if they fail, it can cause all sorts of problems—including shaking. If you think this might be the issue, it’s best to get your car towed to a mechanic so they can take a look at it.
The reason could even be your engine! If you have a lack of power couple with shaking, then you may have a fouled spark plug, which would cause one less cylinder to fire each revolution. Because the cylinders are balanced with the other side the engine block, there could be some shake.
Car Shake: Sometimes OK (For Not), But Not Always Safe
There are a few different reasons why your car might shake, but the most important thing to remember is that shaking can be a sign of serious problems. If you’re ever driving and your car starts to shake, it’s important to pull over and figure out what’s causing it as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you get home or to the next town—the sooner you find out what’s wrong, the better.