What are the reasons for steering wheel vibration when driving at high speeds?
2 Answers
Vehicle steering wheel vibration at high speeds is caused by: 1. Misalignment of front wheel positioning angles and toe-in; 2. Irregular tire wear. Precautions for steering wheel use: 1. Reduce steering wheel rotation angle at higher speeds; 2. Straighten the steering when the vehicle's midpoint crosses the centerline; 3. Return the steering wheel to center when the vehicle's nose aligns with the lane centerline. The steering wheel's function is: to convert the driver's force applied to the wheel rim into torque transmitted to the steering shaft, thereby changing the vehicle's direction. Steering wheels are categorized into: single-spoke, dual-spoke, three-spoke, and four-spoke designs.
Last time on the highway, the steering wheel was shaking like a phone vibration, which scared me so much that I immediately pulled into the service area. My friend helped me check it out, and there are mainly three scenarios: if it starts shaking around 110 km/h, it's likely due to tire imbalance—those small lead weights on the rims might have fallen off; if it shakes only when braking, then the brake discs are probably warped, especially if they were overheated in summer and then cooled with water; if the steering wheel shakes along with the entire car body, it could be due to a warped wheel hub or issues with the drive shaft. That time, the inspection found three missing balancing weights on the left front wheel, and after rebalancing, it was stable again. Before long trips, it's really necessary to check the tires—shaking is too scary!
