After driving your vehicle for a long time, you start to notice wobbles whenever you hit bumps on the road. It can be a worry for some not knowing what causes the wobbling fortunately you are not alone as there are some possible reasons, and I’m going to explain them in this article. Read on
Car Wobbles when Hitting Bumps Main Causes:
In short, the common causes of wobbles when hitting bumps are poor alignment, worn shock absorbers, control arms and steering tie rods, worn strut bearings, bent rims, and bad wheel bearings as well as worn dampers. they are all things that can be fixed with the right auto repair services.
1. Poor wheel alignment:
wheels are not aligned properly in relation to the car body, when you hit bumps, the wheels may point downwards instead of being horizontal resulting in poor contact with the ground which causes the vibrations.
This happens in vehicles with improper suspensions and worn tires or weakened shock absorbers. proper alignment of the wheels will ensure a good grip and can solve your problem. get your wheels aligned at a good garage to avoid further damage to your suspension and improve handling.
2. Bad Shock absorbers:
shock absorbers are there to absorb vibration making the vehicle easier to drive by absorbing the forces from bumps on the road and shaking. it is recommended to have shock absorbers replaced on older vehicles as with age, they can corrode and become worn resulting in noisy suspension and bad handling.
3. Worn control arms:
Just like shock absorbers, control arms can become worn and cause a bump at certain speeds, resulting in vibrations and noise. same as with shock absorbers, it is recommended to replace your control arms to avoid further damage.
4. Failing steering tie rod ends:
steering tie rods are responsible for the alignment of the wheels and their contact with the tires. if they wear out you may notice vibrations while driving as well as a change in your steering due to misalignment of the wheels and car body. replace them if you notice any deterioration.
5. Deteriorated strut bearings:
due to wear from old age, your strut bearings may weaken causing weak suspension and poor contact with the ground resulting in vibrations when hitting bumps or potholes. you need to replace it for smooth riding again.
6. Bent Rims:
This is also very common and causes a vehicle to shake when hitting bumps, over time if not properly maintained rims can get bent, so also can cause your vehicle to wobble and vibrate. it is recommended to have them properly checked for any defects.
7. Improper tire inflation:
Pumping the wrong tire pressure can have an effect on the handling of a vehicle, tires not properly inflated will result in poor contact with the ground causing your car to bounce and shake which is not good for your steering as well as suspensions, it may also result in uneven wear of your tires. check your tire pressure every time you fill up fuel and adjust it accordingly.
8. Worn dampers:
Dampers are responsible for absorbing the vibrations caused by abrupt bumps especially on rough roads, over time they can wear out or become damaged to cause your car to shake and vibrate. it is recommended to replace yours.
9. Bad wheel bearings:
Wheel bearings are there to help you in the wheel rolling ensuring smooth rotation of the wheels so that it doesn’t wobble resulting in poor handling when hitting bumps. this issue can be caused by worn wheel bearings or loose wheel bearings which can be fixed with the right auto repair services.
10. Worn Struts:
The purpose of struts is to absorb vibrations from bumpy roads as well as keep the wheels straight when going over bumps. it’s essential to have them regularly inspected by a good auto repair service for any defects which may cause your car to wobble on bumps.
what to do if the front end shakes after hitting a bump
Since this can be caused by a number of things, I recommend you take the vehicle for inspection from a good auto repair shop. you can also ask for a second opinion, perhaps from someone who knows cars or is willing to help you diagnose the problem. before any real damage is done to your vehicle.
Conclusion
If your car swerves when hitting bumps, taking it to good mechanics may help you solve your problem, remember that the best way to avoid wobbling is to have your car aligned and inspect for worn shocks and shock absorbers.
Some problems are just not fixable and you may have to get yourself a new vehicle which is bad news since you already paid for it. I hope this article will be helpful to you if your vehicle starts shaking while going over bumps.
