Possible Causes of Vibrating When Driving

Most cars will experience some level of vibration when on the road. These vibrations can vary widely depending on your speed, road conditions, and the type of car you drive, but in general, the vibration you feel should be minimal. At the very least, it should be consistent so that you can recognize when there’s a sudden and unexpected increase in those vibrations. Generally speaking, BMWs offer a very smooth ride with minimal vibrations on paved roads, so if something starts vibrating, you know that there’s a problem. Keep reading to learn the common causes of vibrating and how they’re fixed.

Misalignment

One of the most common causes of vibrations in your car is a misalignment of the tires. Your car’s wheels must be carefully aligned and balanced in order to properly hug the road and provide you with a smooth, controlled ride. If one tire is slightly out of alignment, it can cause the car to shake. You’ll most often feel these kinds of vibrations in the seat, steering wheel, or even the brake pedal.

What many people don’t realize is that misalignments can happen very easily. Hitting a pothole too hard or knocking a curb on a sharp turn can often push a wheel out of alignment. The good news is, it’s an easy fix: Just take your car to a mechanic, and they can realign your tires.

Tire Trouble

Another prevalent cause of vibrating is an issue with your wheels or tires. There are a few possibilities here: uneven tire wear, separated tread, damaged wheels, bulging tires, and even loose lug nuts. These kinds of issues can often be corrected before they cause vibrations if you’re regularly having your vehicle inspected and tires rotated, balanced, and replaced as needed.

Damaged Brakes

Suppose you feel the vibrations in your steering wheel and brake pedal, especially when braking. This usually indicates that you have a problem with a brake rotor. If the brake rotors are wearing down unevenly, the calipers can vibrate on the tires when braking, and those vibrations will be transmitted up through your brake pedal and steering wheel.

Again, the best fix for this problem is to take your car to a BMW body shop in Houston, TX. A mechanic will be able to quickly inspect your rotors and replace any that are excessively worn. They can also address the cause of the uneven wearing so that it doesn’t happen again.