The reasons your car is having a shake or a shimmy could be a long list. We’ll look at 7 of them, this is by no means an exhaustive list, and if your car is shaking and it’s able to be driven to a mechanic we recommend you take it there. If it’s not safe to drive, then call us and we’ll be glad to tow your vehicle to the mechanic of your choice. Please don’t igore this problem, if your car is having any of these symptoms.
- There’s a Tire Issue
Your tires may not be properly balanced, or even properly inflated. Did you know if you feel the vibration in your steering wheel, it’s a problem with the front tires. If you feel the vibration in your seat, it’s usually in the rear tires. Check all lug nuts as well, make sure they are tight. They can work themselves loose from time to time. You also could have hit something hard, like a hard bump or a pothole and that’s done some damage to your rim. - The Brakes Need Work
If your car only shakes when you step on the brakes, that’s not a sign there’s a stoplight ahead, that’s a sign that your vehicle may need new brake pads. The brake pads can wear down, after time and you’ll need to have them replaced when you take your vehicle in for regular maintenance. If you see or smell smoke when you are stopping or breaking and it’s coming from your vehicle, you’ll need to stop and pull over and call Limitless Towing - There’s a Suspension Problem
Your shocks and struts hold up your vehicle and cushions the bumps in the road for passengers. If one is worn out or broken, it’s going to send vibrations through your vehicle everytime you go over any sort of bump – and it’s not a good vibration. Possible sources of the problem include tie rods, shock absorbers, struts, bearings, and ball joints. Don’t delay on looking into this, or you could be stranded on the side of the road looking at a major repair. - Low Transmission Fluid
Your vehicle has lots of moving parts inside the engine, and moving parts need lubrication to move. Engines use transmission fluid to move all those parts. When your transmission fluid level falls too low, your car might shake when you accelerate. The causes of this could be low transmission fluid, or there could be a leak. If you run on low or no transmission fluid you could permanently damage your vehicle. - Your Spark Plugs
If you feel like you’re driving over a rumble strip when you hit certain speeds, or if your car shakes and jerks when you press the accelerator, you may need to replace your spark plugs. Check the spark plug connections as well to make sure there is a good connection. - Worn Out or Bent Parts
The brake pads aren’t the only part that can wear out and cause your vehicle to shake. If you’ve been in an accident, your car could have a bent axle that makes your vehicle vibrate as you drive. Please call Limitless Towing if this is occuring to your vehicle, it’s probably not safe to drive for you or for others on the road. - Worn Out Motor Mounts
You might have worn or broken motor mounts if your car shakes when you’re idling. This one is easy to diagnose by a quick look under the hood, if your engine shakes more than normal, then by taking it to a mechanic, you should be able to get this fixed quickly and easily.
As you can see, there are many reason why your vehicle is shaking. We can tow any kind of vehicle in any situation, whether your car broke down on the side of the road, highway or interstate, we’re ready to get you out of harm’s way & get you back on the road. Be sure to call 847-851-4400 to schedule a tow, we are open 24/7.
