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Steering wheel shakes?

Tiny
FAIRFIELDB
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 1.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
Good morning. My car's steering wheel shakes from about 20 mph to about 85. It is not erratic but annoying. I have replaced the tires and had them balanced. It doesn’t shake upon braking. I replaced the brake pads and rotors last year. It was doing it before I did this work and it is still doing it. I noticed that while cruising down the highway at a constant speed it will come and go about every 10 seconds. Could this be a tie rod end or a hub bearing? Not sure what else to check. Thank you.
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 4:57 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome back:

A hub bearing will most times, but not always, make a growling noise. Is that happening? Also, a loose steering component can cause it or a faulty / worn CV joint.

Are you certain that one of the wheels isn't bent? If you rotate the tires, does the vibration change? I know you replaced the brakes. However, does the vibration stop when you apply the brakes? Is there anything you can do to stop it?

Let me know.

Joe
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 8:42 PM
Tiny
ADAMSJOHN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
It shakes at any speed on the gas and never shakes while off the gas. Also if you go slow and tap the brakes the front left wheel seems to move forward slightly or back slightly depending on direction. Left wheel does it noticeably and right wheel just barely. Cannot feel shaking thru steering wheel and doesn't make any noises except a little clunk when tapping brakes.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Sounds like it is overdue for a steering and suspension system inspection. The people at any tire and alignment shop can do that for you. Most do it for free if you have them do the repairs. Based on your observation of the wheel moving, it suggests a tie rod end is loose. If one were to separate, it will send you into the ditch or into oncoming traffic. This is a real common problem with Ford front-wheel-drive vehicles. It's much less common on other brands, but it is not something to ignore. Based on the mileage you listed, worn ball joints and tie rod ends can be expected.

Worn struts can cause some of these symptoms too. Those are less of a safety concern from the point of parts breaking. The concern here is poor handling and steering response that makes the car miserable to drive.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADAMSJOHN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Everything seemed fairly tight when I wiggled around on everything, but found this on the arm that holds the wheel hub and everything. Is it likely that this could be moving in and out? It is in the same direction that the wheel moves in.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

In the pictures you provided, am I looking at the control arm? That is what it appears to be. The control arm bushings may be worn. If they are bad enough, it can allow the wheel to move when you accelerate or brake.

Take a look at the pictures I and 2 attached. I highlighted the bushing which I believe is what you are showing us. Please confirm that.

Let us know.

Joe
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADAMSJOHN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes it is. It looks like maybe its suppose to look like that.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DODSONASTUD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU
2007 Chevy Malibu

When I use my brakes my car and steering wheel shakes. Also when I accerate above 65. No noise is to be heard.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Front brake rotors that are warped will cause the brake vibration normally, and poor tyre balance is usually the cause of the other vibration, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADAMSJOHN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Today I am going to lay a camera under it facing up and get a video while I am tapping the brakes to make it move. To see if I can visually see the control arm move.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
Control arm bushings used to last the life of the vehicle, but with demands for better ride quality, today they are made from softer rubber compounds, and failures are real common.

The biggest problem is you can't identify most worn parts by just poking at them unless they're really bad. The vehicle has to be jacked up and supported in very specific ways, then we use a combination of pry bars and helpers to make the looseness visible. Often we have to change how the vehicle is supported to check some parts because any loading has to be removed so the part is free to move around.

The other thing to be aware of is your very first sentence when you referred to shaking. A worn control arm bushing can allow shaking to occur, but it will never cause it. Any type of shaking, vibration, steering wheel oscillations, or brake pedal pulsation has to be caused by something that is rotating. That includes bent wheels, broken tire belts, warped brake rotors, wheel bearing hubs, (very uncommon), and the elusive inner CV joints.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BARB54
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 44,000 MILES
When idling the steering shakes or wobbles. Makes rattling noise
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Is the engine running smoothly?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BARB54
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes the engine runs fine. Just driving when the wheel is straight the steering wheel will shake or sitting at a stop light just when the steering wheel is straight
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GREGGREEN25
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • AUTOMATIC
I have a 06 chevy malibu. My steering wheel shakes and when I turn the car on sometime it says on the dash power steering. Does the 06 chevy malibu LT use power steering fliud?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I believe you have electric assist steering. If the light is on, have the computer scanned to determine why the light is on. It should provide a trouble code that identifies where the problem is coming from.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARYVISION
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
Hi,
Just a few weeks ago I felt a wobbly/shake in my car when I was driving. It felt like when you have a tire loose. I realized that one of the tire weights were gone, so I brought it to a local Pep Boys to have my tires balanced. They came out and said the shaking was because I needed all 4 new tires because all 4 had broken belts. This seemed a bit strange, so I took it to a local garage to see if they could check my tires. It turned out that my 2 back tires were shot, but he said the front two should last awhile to come. So I replaced the back tires and left only to feel my car still have that wobbly/shaking feeling when I drove it a high & slow speeds. Nothing tremendous, but enough to feel that something isn't right. No noise coming from anywhere either. Just a slight shaking of the steering wheel as well. WHen I brought it back to the garage, they took it for a test drive only & said it seemed like the Trans Axles. They had no quote of price and also did not even put it on a life when they diagnosed the car. This seems strange because someone said it could possibly be that the 2 front tires need to be balanced. But I don't know what to think. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
Still sounds like a broken belt in one of the tires

sorta a goose egg on the tire....it might be short in length or could run a long ways around the tire

This guide can help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-car-tires-work

two ez ways to find out for sure at home

get on level ground, "chock" your rear wheels (on a front wheel drive) and put the vehicle in neutral

1st way) this method just requires a jack.....barely jack one of the front tires off the ground (you will do the other next)

.......barely meaning.....it will spin free....but an "ant" would have to duck to go under it

spin the tire.....does it grab the floor before it gets all the way around? we are looking for it to be "out of round"

keep in mind if the goose egg was on the ground, the rest of the wheel is higher off the ground.....compensate....or

lay your head on the ground and watch the gap change between the tire and the ground as you spin it by hand

2nd way) swap each front tire (wheel) with one on the back (one at a time) then test drive it each time

when the crappy wheel goes to the rear, your steering should improve......you may feel the crappy tire on the back sorta bounce/ jump/ make a racket

return here with good news!

the medic
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TY ANDERSON
  • MECHANIC
  • 719 POSTS
It sounds like your tires are causing the wobbly feeling.
Rotate the front tires to the rear (old tires) and the rear tires to the front (new tires) to see if the feeling in the steering wheel goes away.
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NOTACARPRO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU
I own 2000 Chevrolet Mailbu LS V6. There are approximately 90000 miles on it. I purchased it two months ago. When I go over 55 mph it shakes badly.
It sends a terrible vibration through the steering wheel and the whole car shakes violently and loudly. It is extremely difficult to keep it on the road. I think the dealer intentionally did not disclose it was in an accident. What do you think is the problem?
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TVFLEGEL
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
It could be a bent rim, tire out of balance, or possibly a bad tie rod end (there should be absolutely no play in the front end) I have seen one occasion when someone had put water inside a tire either by accident or on purpose for whatever reason and it caused vibration and shaking
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Friday, September 11th, 2020 AT 1:41 PM (Merged)

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