Ever drive down a paved road, but it feels like you’re driving down a washboard, gravel road? Or maybe you feel your arms starting to go numb from your car shaking?

Not only is it annoying, but it’s also a sign that something is wrong with your vehicle. But what exactly? Let’s take a look at a few common problems that could be causing your car to shake.

Man Driving a Car

Why Is My Car Shaking?

The answer is, it could be several things — some that require immediate attention. So, it’s always important to confirm your suspicions with your local auto repair shop.

But to get you started, here are just a few things that leave your car shaking and you wondering why.

1) Unbalanced Tires or Unevenly Worn Tires

As your points of contact with the road, something off with your tires can certainly cause your car to vibrate.

If your tires are unbalanced (sometimes caused by hitting a pothole or driving on bumpy roads), you may notice a shaking at certain speeds. The same goes for tires that have worn unevenly; you shouldn’t expect a smooth ride.

Luckily, if caught early enough, it’s easy to fix and replace tires. Just don’t wait long enough for the vibrations to affect other parts of your vehicle, like the wheel alignment or your axles.

3) Bent or Damaged Axle

On front wheel drive/all wheel drive vehicles, the axles connect the front and rear wheels to your car and help propel your vehicle forward. On rear wheel drive vehicles, the driveshaft connects the rear wheels to the transmission.

If damaged (either from an accident, hitting something in the road, or use over the years), your axles aren’t doing their job as they should, which could lead to some new vibrations in your car, especially while accelerating.

4) Worn Suspension

Your suspension helps you have a smooth ride on the way to work or to soccer practice.

Once suspension components are worn, it stops being such a smooth ride. Why? Worn components could be preventing your vehicle from properly aligning, causing the shaking as it struggles to function out of alignment.

Definitely a good time to stop by your mechanic and ask them what’s causing the car shaking.

5) Worn Brake Rotors

Notice a shimmy/pulsation while coming to a stop?

It’s probably time to replace your brakes and possibly your rotors as that shake is caused by a difference in thickness in your brake pads or rotors. And when it comes to your brakes, now is the best time to get those checked out (before they stop doing their job completely).

Fixing Car Shaking in Your Vehicle

When you notice a new shimmy or shake while driving, it’s essential to make an appointment at your local auto repair facility, as it’s a sign of an underlying issue — some with significant consequences if left unfixed.

Northwest Auto Center of Houston is open and servicing the Houston community. Call us today at (281) 894-8880 to make an appointment and stop your car from shaking.