Steering wheel shaking or car pulling to one side? What it means

What the symptom usually means

• Shaking at a certain speed, often 50 to 65 mph: wheels out of balance, a bent rim or a tire with internal damage.
• Shaking or pulsing only when braking: uneven brake rotors.
• Car pulls to one side while driving: uneven tire pressure, an alignment problem, or a tire problem.
• Car pulls only when braking: a sticking brake caliper or uneven pad wear.
• Steering wheel off-center when driving straight: alignment, often after a pothole or curb hit.
• Clunking over bumps or loose, wandering steering: worn suspension or steering parts. This is a safety problem.

Check tire pressure first

Low pressure in one tire is one of the most common reasons a car pulls. Use the pressure on the label in the driver’s door jamb or in your owner’s manual, not the maximum number printed on the tire, and check when the tires are cold. Look at the tires too: a bulge, cut or uneven wear is a sign to get them checked.

When it is not safe to keep driving

• A sudden, strong vibration that wasn’t there before.
• A bulge or bubble on the tire sidewall.
• Steering that feels loose or has a lot of play.
• Loud clunking from the front end, or the car pulls hard.

If any of these happen, slow down, pull over somewhere safe and call us instead of driving it in.

Why NYC roads make this common

Potholes, steel plates, curbs and rough bridge joints knock wheels out of alignment and bend rims. One hard hit can be enough. If you hit a bad pothole, our pothole guide covers what to check and how to claim from the City.

How we handle it here

• We inspect the tires and rims, check wheel balance and alignment, and look at the steering and suspension parts.
• We show you what we found, tell you what is urgent and what can wait, and give you the price before any work starts.
• Nothing is done without your approval, and you can ask for a written estimate.
• We are open 24/7 and we speak English and Spanish.