what is wrong with my car if the steering wheel jiggles side to side slightly while I'm driving?

Answer 1

The bushes on the steering column have gone

Answer 2

A few possibilities:
1) Loose lug nuts on a tire. Check the nuts on each tire to be sure they are tight.
2) Unbalanced wheel. A wheel may not be balanced due to a balance weight coming off (or if you just had any tires put on, they may not have balanced them properly).
3) Worn sterrign cloumn. If the car is older (4+ years), the steering column may have "play" in it that allows it to shake as you drive. This may be the answer if the wheel jiggles but there is no vibration in the car anywhere else.

Most likely: Alignment: The car may be out of alignment, either from hitting something (pothole, curb, almost anything) or just simply from age. An alignment check is not too time intensive and should cost less than $100.

Answer 3

Does the steering wheel just jiggle. Is it loose when the car is turned off? If it just jiggles a little, that is normal. As cars get older the steering gets loose. It really isn't something you can fix. If it does it on its own then it is one of those things all the other people are saying.

Answer 4

Any number of things could be wrong. Control arm bushings, strut bushings, idler arm bushing, imbalanced tire, steering column bearing, bent tie rod (less likely).

A good alignment shop is like gold. If you can find an alignment shop with older, more experienced guys working there, you have found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. A one-man shop is even better.

When I bought the car I have now, you could look at the front wheels and tell they weren't right. I took it to MANY alignment shops, and EVERY ONE OF THEM charged me for an alignment. But you could still look at the wheels and tell they weren't right. And tires lasted about 8,000 miles.

It wasn't until we moved to Bakersfield that we found Pearson's Alignment that found out that the springs had compressed and the front end wouldn't take an alignment until we replaced the springs!

He also knew that that particular front end couldn't be set to factory specs, it needed a full half-inch more "toe in". Only experience teaches this kind of thing.

You may not remember the old days when men took pride in their workmanship. The motto "A job worth doing is worth doing right". Today mechanics get together and brag about how quickly they can do a job to "beat the flat rate". It's all about the money.

Answer 5

There may well be numerous motives from the easy like tire rigidity to the very high priced like a physique subject. the final wager is which you hit a pot hollow or decrease and the motor vehicle is out of allignment. This lots is definite you're able to be able to desire to get it checked and glued pronto. The wobbleis on the least affecting the tires and making a blowout and/or tire repkacement greater possibly. to boot the cost of tire alternative a blow out enormously with a wobbly automobile ought to reason a serious twist of destiny. Wobblle issues additionally point out an argument in controling the "song" or steerage that's risky in a no longer trouble-free supply up, could make a unique to skid a nasty skid throwing you into oncomming site visitors and make it lots greater durable to regulate in any emergency maneuver. All wobble variety issues worsen not greater effective if uncorrected so the faster the greater effective.start up with the aid of checking air rigidity i9n tires in spite of if the tires seem regarding the comparable. a pal in all probability has an air gage and if no longer you ought to purchase one for $2 or much less. Many convenience shops sell them and all autoparts places do. Many convenience shops actually have a 50 cent air gadget that enables you to place air into tire yet once you do no longer understand what you're doing with this get somebody to tutor youn the 1st time or go with the aid of a provider station because of the fact in case you shrink to rubble you are able to ruin valve stem and/or enable all the air out of tire which makes alittleprobl;em a very vast subject. no count if that's air rigidity keep examine on that tire and notice if it gets low back.if it does you have a gradual leak and it ought to be mounted. no count if that's no longer tire rigidity please go have this checked as quickly as achievable, And stay actually sober while making use of this element until eventually ultimately that's mounted because's a DUI supply up waiting to ensue. you know that's the motor vehicle yet to an officer it is going to look to be your drving.

Answer 6

Usually that jiggle is caused by poor wheel balance on all the wheels of your car. Have the wheels balanced and rotated and you'll see the difference

Answer 7

check your tires for a loose belt .. ( the bands that make up your tire inside). you will notice it as a slight bump in the tread . you can see it by sighting across the tire or by running your hand across the tread and feeling for a raised spot. if its been this way for a while you will actually see where this spot is worn much more than the rest of the tread. be careful though . the spot may have worn enough to have the steel bands sticking thru the tread and will have sharp wires sticking out that will poke you.

Answer 8

It could be a few different things: Your tires may not be balanced, it could need an alignment, or you could have wore ball joints. Those are the most common reasons for that jiggling....

Answer 9

If the car vibrates when you come to a stop, then it is the timing belt. If it lurches to the side when you are driving then it is a wheel alignment issue. If the steering wheel just feels loose, then it is your drive shaft.

Answer 10

Sounds like the wheels need to be balanced/aligned.