Picture this: you’re driving your rig down the highway at 65 miles per hour when your semi-truck’s steering wheel starts shaking. Oh, no, you might be thinking. I just replaced my engine. Why is my steering wheel shaking at high speeds now?
If you’ve ever experienced the pain and fear of a shaking steering wheel, then you know it’s not pleasant. Instead of waiting for the problem to resolve itself, we recommend reaching out to a certified diesel technician right away.
If you’re not near a repair team, knowing what might be causing a shaking steering wheel is the next best thing. In fact, familiarizing yourself with these five common reasons may help your diesel professional resolve the issue.
Certified Fleet Services at your service. We’re here to help you take control of your rig, so you can do what you do best faster and better.
If you’re wondering why your steering wheel shakes at high speeds, then you’ll want to check out this quick read, all about the five most common reasons why steering wheels shake. Let’s dive in.
Table: 5 reasons why steering wheels shake at high speeds
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1. Tires are unbalanced
One of the most common reasons that a steering wheel shakes is that the tires aren’t balanced. Because the tires are unbalanced, your vehicle will shake and send the vibrations all the way up to the steering wheel.
If you’re experiencing this issue, you may not notice the shaking at lower speeds, but you’ll only start noticing it when you’re traveling at 50 miles per hour or faster.
Here’s what you can do if you think your tires are unbalanced:
- Check to see if one or more tires are flat, as the imbalance will affect your ability to steer the vehicle.
- If all the tires are inflated at the right levels, check the tread on the tires. If the tire tread is even on all the vehicles, you may be able to have the tires rotated. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for new tires.
- If the issue isn’t with the tread or the tire pressure, the issue likely resides between the tires and the steering wheel, higher up in the vehicle.
- Check your axles and drivetrain, as both could result in the jerking feeling you’re experiencing in your steering wheel.
- Finally, check the wheel bearings, rod ends, and ball joints. Each may indicate a sign that issues with the tires exist.
2. Wheels are misaligned
When wheels are out of alignment, tires won’t point in the same direction. The resulting imbalance can create drag and cause a steering wheel to shake or pull to one side.
It sounds awful, but hitting debris, riding over a curb, or lurching into a pothole at speeds faster than normal can cause vibration in the steering, not to mention unbalanced wheels.
3. Suspension components need fixing
Suspension and alignment problems are also one of the many causes of steering wheel vibrations. Shaking as a result of worn ball joints or rods is common, though more so in older vehicles.
The reason is that suspension components often can become loose, causing movement around the suspension and steering systems. The result can be a shaky steering wheel.
4. Brake issues
Sometimes, a steering wheel can shake when you’re slowing down, particularly when hitting the brakes. If you notice that your steering wheel shakes when braking, your brake rotors may be worn.
If your brake rotors are worn, you could experience shaking when depressing the brake pedal. What’s more, you could also be experiencing issues with brake pads. If rotors are in great condition, the issue could be with the brake pads themselves.
Regardless of whether the issue lies with the brake pads or rotors, since braking is key to ensuring a safe driving experience, you’ll want to bring your truck in for in-shop diesel repairs to ensure a safer experience on the road.
5. Steering components need troubleshooting
This may sound obvious, but issues with steering components could be the cause of a shaking steering wheel. Tie rods, ball joints, steering gears, steering knuckles, and control arms could be the likely cause of a shaky wheel.
Nevertheless, bringing a vehicle in for prompt and reliable service will help ensure greater comfort while driving and safety for other vehicles and pedestrians.
How to diagnose a shaking steering wheel
So, you now know the five most common reasons why a steering wheel shakes at high speeds. How do you diagnose it?
The truth is that the issue may not lie with your suspension, steering, tire, or brake systems. In fact, engine issues can also often cause steering wheels to vibrate and shake. Other common areas for concern include:
- Spark systems
- Air systems
- Fuel systems
- And more
Best not to gamble with your rig and instead bring it to an ASE-certified diesel repair technician. A professional diesel truck repair team has the tools, knowledge, and experience to fix your truck up quickly and efficiently, so you can get back to hauling instead of wondering what the cause of the issue is.
Certified fact
Did you know that trucks need about 40% more stopping time than cars — equivalent to the length of three football fields — to come to a full stop at highway speeds?
If you notice a truck’s wheels, brakes, or suspension look loose or sound funny, you definitely don’t want to mess with a truck at highway speeds. For more safety facts and must-know safety tips about truck driving, check out our Instagram.
Steering wheel shaking? Bring it to a Certified diesel pro
According to ConsumerShield.com, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration logged between 143,000 and 166,000 truck accidents annually from 2020 to 2025. Fortunately, only 6% of those were fatal, but that’s more than 8,500 lost lives due to accidents.
A simple way to reduce the chance of accidents is by ensuring all components in your vehicle — your steering components in particular — are working at their best. Regular planned preventive maintenance is crucial to ensuring a safer, more profitable operation.
And if you’re experiencing issues with your steering wheel, you definitely want to bring your diesel truck to a certified diesel repair technician. If you live in Florida, give your truck the best care it can get with a Certified diesel repair.
Our ASE-certified technicians have more than 25 years of experience serving diesel trucks of all shapes and sizes. Let us help you get back on the road faster.
To set up a truck repair intake, get in contact with us today. We look forward to helping you meet and exceed your goals.
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