Shake in front end while driving
I have a shake in the front end of my car, and the dealer that I bought it from put brand new tires on it and balanced and aligned them, I can't figure out what else would be causing the shake…
My car has 124500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there,
Thanks for taking the time to contact us in regards to your 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix and the shaking issue you’re experiencing. Regardless of what type of vehicle you may own, there are typically five mechanical problems that cause shaking in the front end while you are driving.
Bent front wheels
Loose wheel bearings
Tire and wheels out of balance
Warped or misaligned brake rotors
Damaged suspension parts
If you took the car to the dealership and they balanced the tires and completed a front end alignment, then hopefully they inspected the wheel bearings, CV joints and other mechanical parts that make up the front end suspension. As a mechanic, sometimes at automotive shops, a technician will complete the work that is assigned without really trying to diagnose the actual problem.
For example, it is very possible that the front tires and wheel combination balanced on the machine, however, if your tire has a slipped belt or what’s called a "radial pull", the front end will continue to vibrate. This is typically seen at speeds higher than 45 miles per hour and is very difficult to discover during a tire/wheel balance on a calibrated tire balancing machine.
Another thing to consider is when and under what circumstances you are experiencing the front end vibration. If the shaking occurs during braking and acceleration, the problem could be with the brake rotors, wheel bearings, or other suspension issues. If the problem is at higher speeds, it could be a tire problem.
There are several potential issues that might be causing the shaking in your Pontiac Grand Prix. The best advice I’d give you is to have a certified mechanic test drive the vehicle themselves so they can feel, listen, and observe what’s going on with your car to allow them to make a good diagnosis and repair of what’s actually causing the shaking. Hope that information helps you!
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.
The most common reasons a Pontiac Grand Prix shakes when braking are bad brake rotors, bad brake pads, or a bad wheel bearing.
Suspension issues: Issues with your front suspension can also cause your vehicle to shake or vibrate. When this is the case, your car will act normally when stopped, but will begin vibrating during changes in speed or when traveling over bumps.
Suspension system malfunction
Your vehicle will begin to shake when the bushings of your tire rods, spindles, or control arms are worn out. Use a flashlight to check and see if this is the root issue. Check for cuts, frays, pinching, or excess grease. Also check to see if your bushings are pushed out of their bracket.
Vibrations caused by out-of-round tires or wheels, bent rims or excessive hub runout can be diagnosed on the vehicle with a dial indicator, or on a wheel balancer that has this capability.
If you look inside a CV joint, there are 3 main bearings that ride on needle bearings. Those needle bearing will go bad and fall out leaving the main bearing unsupported. This will cause a bad vibration during acceleration.
Worn components, such as ball joints and control arm bushings, can cause vibrations at high speeds and when you brake. In this case, the vibrations are a warning that you need to check and maintain your suspension system, replacing any worn components.
Shaking is performed in the same manner as vibrations but as a coarse movement. The oscillations are of a larger amplitude and lower frequency than vibrations.
Vibration While Driving. Because the CV Axle joints are located right next to the vehicle`s wheels, any damage to them can directly affect your driving. If you suddenly feel as though your vehicle is vibrating more than normal, it can mean that you have a damaged halfshaft.
If you experience similar vibrations on smooth roads, your shocks, struts, or steering stabilizer may be worn. Unusual noises – When shocks and struts are worn out you may hear a clunking or knocking sound. This sound is caused by metal-to-metal contact when the shock or strut bottoms out when hitting a bump.
If the caliper or caliper pistons become stuck, it is unable to properly squeeze the brake pads against the rotors, which may cause you to feel some vibrations when you hit the brakes.
Improperly functioning spark plugs cause an uneven burn of fuel in the engine, resulting in fluctuating RPMs and a louder noise. You might also experience increased vibrations of your vehicle while sitting idle or while traveling at low speeds. These vibrations originate from the engine and can shake the entire car.
When your car vibrates every time you drive at 50-70 mph, it is most likely that your wheels are out of balance. The vibrations will emanate from the steering wheel across the seat and through the vehicle`s floor.
Tire Problems Tires are one of the most common causes of car vibrations. One of the possible issues are out-of-balance tires. Your problems may not be noticeable at slow speeds, but the shaking will intensify as you accelerate to 55-60 miles per hour. The steering wheel, or even the entire car, will start to vibrate.
Unbalanced or Damaged Wheels – Around 45 MPH, you may feel a vibration through the steering wheel. As you increase in speed, the vibration will intensify. In order to rotate properly, the wheels of a vehicle need to be balanced.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Can front wheel drive car engine power rear wheel drive
ANSWER : Anything is possible with enough engineering. The changes you are looking at would take major structural changes and would definitely not be an easy job. You could possibly consult a manufacturing engineer to get more details on how this could actually be carried out and whether it would be feasible.
When I drive a speeds of 25 to 35 the car shakes but if I drive speeds faster than 40 it doesn’t shake.
ANSWER : Check the tires for any cupping on the tread. If the tread is cupping, then I recommend replacing the shock absorbers. Also, I recommend having all 4 tires checked for balance and make sure that they are good. A bent rim can cause the front end to shake and smooth out as the speed increases. If the tires are good and have no issues, then the suspension may be loose cause the front end to move around on the bumps from the road way. If you need further assistance with your front end shaking, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Hi I have an 2001 Infiniti i30 and when I put it in drive it starts to shake and when I start driving it starts shaking and rumbl
ANSWER : Hi there. There are many sources that cause vibration, and if a single component designed to dampen that fails, you’ll feel it. Motor mounts, transmission mounts, suspension bushings are just a few of the things that are designed to minimize vibration. However, damage to fuel system components like a mass air flow sensor can also cause this type of problem. The best way to narrow the causes down is to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car shakes and vibrates inspection.
Front end control arm or ball joint? Cost?
ANSWER : It sounds like your lower control arm ball joint came apart. The fact that it came out is an indication that there is a lot of wear in the front end. You may have also damaged other components like the brake hoses or a lower control arm. The spindle may also be damaged. I recommend having the vehicle’s suspension inspected by a mechanic before getting a quote for repairs, since there may be major damage that is not so obvious.
when I start driving and let off of the gas for the first time I hear a clunk from the right front end. Not on bumps or turns
ANSWER : Hi there. The symptoms you’re describing may be contributed to worn out stabilizer bar bushings. These parts are designed to redistribute the weight of the vehicle to help prevent rollovers, and to enhance handling. When the bushing wears out, it typically creates a loud, "Clunking" sound. It might be a good idea to contact one of our local mechanics who can inspect the entire front end of the vehicle to ensure other components are not damaged or need to be replaced.
Shaking at the front end of the car
ANSWER : Saturn became aware of a vibration like you are describing on many of their vehicles and designed a fix for it more than 10 years ago. The fix is described in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 00-T-57A. It calls for installing their Powertrain Dampener Kit. I would still start with checking the lug nut to see if it torqued correctly, inspecting for a missing wheel weight, and having your tires balanced.
Front end and steering wheel shaking – 2013 Infiniti JX35
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like you have a tire or axle problem. If it is in the brakes, then you may feel it only when the brakes are applied. Have the front end checked to see if you have a separated tire or one with broke cords in it. An axle may also cause problems like this and a mechanic would need to inspect the steering and suspension in order to have this corrected.
Shaking in the front end also rattling in the front end
ANSWER : Hello. I will help you with your concern about possible damage to the front end of your car caused by hitting a pothole. If symptoms developed, such as shaking and rattling, after hitting the pothole then yes it is likely there is some damage that will have to be diagnosed and repaired. Not to worry though, it is likely only component damage and such is repairable.
Your best option is to have YourMechanic diagnose the car’s shaking symptom at your home or office. Once that is done, you will get an estimate of the cost to replace the bent or worn out components that are causing your issue. Hope this helps and let us know how we can further assist you.
