Car Shake When I Drive Over 30 Mph? (Explained)

Who doesn’t like to drive their cars above 30 mph, right? In fact, 30 mph is quite rarely the speed limit on roads and highways.

That being said, you won’t be able to enjoy the ride if your car shakes when you drive over 30 miles per hour.

If it happens, you might be wondering why your car shakes after reaching 30 mph speed. Let’s find the answers to all your questions one by one.

Can Car shake when I drive over 30 mph?

Your car can shake when you drive over 30 mph for numerous reasons. It can happen due to a problem with the tires, wheels, brakes, suspensions, transmission, or engine. The car can shake at 30 mph even with new wheels or tires if they are not balanced properly for a smooth ride.

Unless there is a problem in any part of the car, your car won’t shake while you drive over 30 mph. Fairly old cars shake when the speed goes above 30 miles per hour as their parts usually get worn out.

Worn-out tires, wheels, or any issues with the rims will usually cause the car to shake when you drive it over 30 miles per hour.

If there is a problem in the balance of the brand new tires or wheels, the car will vibrate when it reaches a particular speed.

Clogged filters, failed spark plugs, or worn engine mounts can cause the engine to misfire when you drive the car.

As a result, any issue with the engine will cause the car to shake and vibrate at 30 mph or above. If the car shakes because of an engine misfire, it can suddenly stop after vibrating for a while.

The roads are not usually hundred percent smooth, they have bumps and hotels in them. The suspension of the car is made to reduce the impact in the car when it goes through uneven surfaces.

So, if the components of the suspension get worn out, it will make the whole car vibrate when it reaches 30 mph.

Vibration in the car at a speed of 30 mph is an very serious problem. You should address this issue and find a solution as soon as possible.

It may not seem too serious at first, but continuous vibrations will likely result in parts failure, resulting in loss of vehicle control.

Can a bad tie rod cause shaking at 30 mph?

A tie rod basically is usually used to steer the car. So, a bad tie rod will cause the car to shake when the speed is 30 mph.

Even if the whole car doesn’t shake due to a defective tie rod, the steering wheel will shake when the car’s speed reaches 30 miles per hour.

The shaking noise due to tie rods usually occurs if they get rusty, get damaged, or worn down. Apart from shaking, when the tie rods wear down, the front wheels make clunking and rattling sounds, commonly occurring during turning at an intersection.

When the car shakes due to the tie rod, it can be very dangerous because it happens due to a problem in the part. You should fix the tie rod immediately to prevent any incidents due to failed steering in an intersection.

Why does my car shake when I drive over 30 mph?

There are various reasons why your car can shake when you drive over 30 miles per hour. You will need to understand why your car shakes when you drive over 30 mph to effectively and effortlessly solve the issue.

Let’s find out why a car shakes or vibrates after reaching 30 mph speed.

Faulty axles:

There are two pairs of axles in every car. The first pair of axles connect the front wheels and the second pair of axles connect the back wheels. If there is any fault with any of the two pairs of axles, the car will vibrate during acceleration.

The axles won’t get bent too easily. It mainly happens because of accidents or if the bottom of the car collides with high ground. However, it happens quite often and due to faulty axles, the car will start to shake even before reaching 30 mph speed.

Problem with the engine:

The engine is the powertrain of the car and any problem with the engine will cause the car to shake even at 30 mph. However, the engine has various parts and due to a fault in any of the parts, the car can vibrate.

The engine naturally vibrates to complete its mechanism. If the engine were connected directly to the body, the vibrations would be unpleasant, and the parts would deteriorate.

As a result, engines have specific types of mounts that absorb vibrations and shocks. When they fail, the vibration of the engine will be felt all across the car and it will increase while accelerating.

Worn out spark plugs:

Spark plugs produce the spark required for the fuel to ignite in engines. The engine will have a difficult time working if more than one spark ruins. The engine will still continue to run with one faulty spark plug.

However, if one cylinder misfires, the engine will get out of balance and it will cause the car to shake.

Brakes:

Car brakes use friction to bring the vehicle to a halt. When you press the brake, a hydraulic pump sends oil to the caliper, which compresses the brake pads against the disc with a caliper piston.

If there is a problem with either the brake pads, piston, or disc, the car will vibrate when you apply the brake pedals. However, if there is a major fault in the brakes, the car will even vibrate while accelerating and when it reaches 30 mph.

A problem with the wheels:

Your car can shake or vibrate while accelerating and riding at 30 mph if the wheels are misaligned. Your car can also shake if the wheel bolts are not tightened properly, which can be highly dangerous and needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

Unbalanced tires:

The tires and rims need to be perfectly round and of the same size to maintain the balance. If tires and rims of different sizes and non-uniform shapes are installed in the car, it will result in a minor unbalance, causing the car to vibrate.

How do you fix a car vibration at 30 mph?

Fixing a car vibration at 30 mph is not as difficult as it may seem. You will just have to detect what is causing the car to shake at 30 miles per hour and fix the issue accordingly.

Different reasons for car vibration have different solutions. Let’s take a look at how you can fix a car vibration at 30 mph.

Change brake pads or the disc:

If your car is vibrating because of the breaks, you should change the brake disc and pads. You should do it by following the proper procedures and with proper precaution as airing out the braking system is somewhat difficult.

Balance the tires:

Unbalanced tires are one of the most common reasons for vibrations at 30 mph or above. So, if a tire is worn out, goes flat, or begins to cause vibrations, balancing should always be done during putting the tires on a rim.

There are specific tools for locating the unbalanced spots in the rims and for straightening those spots. You can use those tools for balancing the tires and getting rid of unwanted vibration while driving.

Tighten the wheels:

The car you are driving can vibrate if the bolts of the wheel are not properly tightened. If this is the case, you should immediately tighten the bolts using a tire wrench.

Change the spark plugs:

If the spark plugs are damaged or too old, it can cause the engine to misfire as it won’t get enough fuel for ignition. The engine misfire will cause the car to shake at 30 mph speed. You should change the spark plugs if this is the case.

Let the engine get fully cool before starting to change the spark plugs. A ratchet wrench that includes an extender and a spark plug socket is required to do it.

Unscrew the spark plugs and detach the ignition cables from the top of the engine. After that, replace the spark plugs that are worn out and seem defective with new ones.

Final Thoughts

A car can snake when you drive over 30 miles per hour due to a fault in any of the parts. It commonly occurs because of an issue related to the tires, wheels, or engine. You should detect the problem and fix it as soon as possible to prevent any accidents and have a smooth ride.