If your car is shaking when you decelerate, it can be scary. First, however, it is essential to know why this is happening so you can address the issue. Below, we have listed the possible causes of this problem.
If your car shakes when decelerating, it could be due to the following:
- Unbalanced Tires
- Worn Tires
- Damaged Rims
- Bad CV Joints
- Worn Wheel Bearings
- Bad Suspension
- Worn Tie Rod End Joints
- Worn Brake Pads
- Bad Brake Rotors
- Bad Axle Joints
- Worn Engine Mounts
If your car is shaking or shuttering when you slow down, it shouldn't be taken lightly. In this article, we will discuss the warning signs of each and explain why it is crucial to address the issue. In addition, we will answer other frequently asked questions about vehicle issues, so read on.
Car Shakes When Decelerating - What Could Be Wrong?
If your car is shaking when you are slowing down, it's important to know the issue. Below, we have listed the possible causes of this problem.
Unbalanced Tires
One of the most common problems that can cause a car to shake when slowing down is unbalanced tires. An unbalanced tire will lead to uneven tread wear, premature tire aging, and extra friction from the wheel itself.
This imbalance often causes this shaking sensation and vibration in the steering wheel. If your car shakes at lower speeds and the shaking intensifies as your vehicle speed decreases, you should check your tire pressure and lookout for signs of unbalanced tires.
Worn Tires
With normal wear and tear over time, your tires can become worn and affect your car's ability to drive smoothly. In addition, if one of your tires is worn more than the others, it could cause an imbalance, making your car shake when you are slowing down.
This is because not all four wheels are turning at the same speed; usually, one of your tires is not contacting the ground and the others. Along with this issue, worn-out tires can cause an increase in noise and vibration and reduced fuel economy and handling abilities.
Damaged Rims
Damaged rims are often overlooked, but they can be a huge factor in your car shaking when you are slowing down. A damaged rim can affect the way the tire sits on the wheel, which will make your car shake when you are decelerating.
If your rims are bent or out of line, then this could be causing damage to the tires and making them unevenly worn. Also, this means that if one side of the tire is touching the ground, then one side of your wheel will be in contact with it while the other isn't, and this could lead to a shaking sensation when you are decelerating.
Bad CV Joints
Bad CV joints can cause a car to shake when slowing down because they do not work correctly. This type of part connects the transmission to the wheel, and without it, your car cannot move.
If one of your CV joints isn't working or is damaged, then it could be causing damage to your tires, which will cause them to shake when you are decelerating.
Worn Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings allow the wheels to turn smoothly, and when they are worn down, the wheel will shake when you are slowing down.
Not only can wheel bearings cause a car to shake when you are decelerating, but they can also lead to an increase in noise vibration and rattling while driving.
Bad Suspension
If your car's suspension is damaged, it can cause a car to shake when you are slowing down. This is because the suspension connects your vehicle to its wheels, and without them being in working order, you cannot drive smoothly.
A worn-out suspension can cause uneven tire wear and damage other components on your vehicle so if you have bad suspension or worn springs, get them replaced immediately.
Worn Tie Rod End Joints
This car issue is a common cause of shaking when decelerating, and it can be severe. A worn tie rod end joint is the piece that connects your steering wheel to your vehicle's wheels, so if they become damaged or worn down, then it can cause uneven tire wear as well as a shaking sensation when braking.
In addition to causing a shaking sensation when you are decelerating, this type of car problem can lead to the steering wheel not performing correctly and causing damage to other parts of your vehicle.
Worn Brake Pads
If your car's brake pads are worn, it can cause a shaking sensation when decelerating. If the brake pads aren't working correctly, this will prevent your vehicle from stopping quickly and efficiently, making it shake while braking at slow speeds.
In addition to causing a shaking sensation when braking, wearing out your brake pads can cause damage to other parts of your vehicle because when they are in working order, then your car's brakes work correctly.
Bad Brake Rotors
Bad brake rotors can cause a car to shake when you are braking because not only do they wear out quickly, but the rotors aren't working correctly. Also, if your brake pads become worn or damaged, it can lead to uneven tire wear and a shaking sensation when you are braking.
In addition to damaging other components on your vehicle when they aren't working correctly, brake rotors can also cause damage to your suspension and even your tires. If your brakes and tires are not in excellent condition, then you need to get them checked out immediately.
Bad Axle Joints
Bad axle joints can make your car shake when braking because the axles connect the wheels to your vehicle. Without them, nothing is connecting your tires to your car, and this will make it vibrate while driving on smooth roads.
When this part is damaged or worn out, it can cause damage to other parts of your vehicle and uneven tire wear because the axle joints are meant to make your vehicle work smoothly without causing damage to other components.
In addition, a bad axle joint can cause a rattling sensation while you are driving and even terrible noise that is hard for you to pinpoint where it's coming from.
Worn Engine Mounts
A bad engine mount can cause a car to shake when braking because the engine connects to the rest of your vehicle using mounts. If this part isn't working correctly, it will affect your vehicle's stability and even cause damage to other parts of your car.
These types of car problems can also increase noise vibrations and rattling while you are driving.
What is death wobble?
Death wobble is a condition that occurs when your vehicle's front end begins to shake violently while you are driving.
When this happens, your steering wheel is shaking violently and cannot center itself because your vehicle's suspension can no longer hold up the weight of your vehicle. In addition, this will cause your steering wheel to shake while driving because the tie rod ends have worn out.
Death wobble is dangerous because it can lead to loss of control over your vehicle, damage other components on your car, and even result in an accident if you cannot regain control.
Why does my car shake when the heat is on?
If your vehicle is shaking when the heat or air conditioning is on could be due to a load on the engine from the compressor. If the compressor is not working correctly, it can put high stress on your engine, which will cause the vehicle to shake or rattle.
This can also cause damage to other parts of your vehicle because the compressor takes a lot of energy from the engine and uses it up while working on cooling down or heating your car.
How do you stop engine vibration?
If your car is shaking due to engine problems, then the only way to stop it is by fixing the part causing the issue. However, the hard part is pinpointing the culprit.
Start by checking that your tires have even tread and are at the proper inflation PSI. In addition, check your vehicle history on the last time you had your tires balanced and rotated.
Also, check your tire rotors and brake pads for wear. Lastly, if you still aren't sure what is wrong, then go to a trusted mechanic for an inspection.
Can low oil make your car vibrate?
It is possible that low oil levels can make your car vibrate. This is because your car's engine needs oil to function properly.
If there isn't enough, then the pistons will not be lubricated, and this will cause friction between the metal parts, which can make them shake, rattle, or vibrate when you are driving.
Final Thoughts
When you notice any of these problems happening to your car, then you must bring it in for an inspection as soon as possible. Replacing the bad parts will keep your vehicle running smoothly and help extend its life.
If you like this article, then you should check out our others:
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Josephine Gonzales Rosas
Thursday 6th of October 2022
Thank you so much for the information in this article. I found it to be a real good guide to get my vehicle inspected for things a neighborhood mechanic didn't tell me. Just went to the highest money for him qoute . Thank you thank you thank you.