United Tire and Service News

Does your steering wheel shake while driving? Or perhaps there is something that’s “just not right” with the way your car drives at high speed. Nowadays, cars are built in a way that it’s nearly impossible to feel the bumps, cracks, and imperfections on the road. Therefore, when the steering wheel is shaking, it’s a definite sign there is something significantly wrong and it should not be ignored. And United Tire & Service wants you and your family to be safe while on the road!

 

Determining the root cause for steering wheel shaking is a daunting task for technicians. It’s not as simple as pointing out a general reason and then correcting it. The diagnosis takes time and thorough multi-point inspection to rule out any issues that may appear to be the problem. In fact, sometimes there is more than one contributing factor that will cause a steering wheel to shake.  After a test drive of your car, our technicians will pinpoint the root cause by going through a process of elimination analysis.

Common factors that may contribute to the steering wheel shaking include: 

 

 

How safe are your tires? There are very few things that are more important to car safety than having tires that are in good quality condition. Sure, you can extend some maintenance requirements and still remain relatively safe on the road, such as an oil change or an engine air filter. But, your tires are not only vital to your safety but also everyone else on the road, which is a huge responsibility. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), each year, there is an average of almost 11,000 reported tire-related accidents.  

 

Tire balancing and the correct tire air pressure are extremely important factors. When they're not within specification, either of these may cause the steering wheel to shake due to the vibration of the tires at high speed. While tire balancing requires the necessary equipment and a technician to determine the status, checking the tire air pressure is completely within your control. United Tire & Service recommends checking the tire air pressure once a month (including the spare). 

 

TIP: For the most accurate reading, check the tire air pressure three hours or longer after driving your vehicle. 

 

The front-end suspension system is comprised of many components, which includes an outer tie rod end, inner tie rod end, upper and lower control arm bushings, a pitman arm, lower ball joints, and a central link (also known as drag link). If any of these parts are deficient or worn out, they will absolutely contribute to the steering wheel shaking. In addition, all of these parts play an integral role in the wheel alignment. 

When is the last time a front-end suspension or alignment check has been completed for your car? 

 

Contact United Tire & Service for an appointment. We have 13 convenient locations throughout Philadelphia and each independently owned location is committed to a standard of excellence for customer service!