You should be able to drive in a straight line with light hands on the wheel. If the car drifts to one side, or the steering wheel shakes at certain speeds, the problem is rarely in the steering wheel itself.
These symptoms point to the tyres, wheels, alignment or the steering and suspension parts that connect them to the car.
Car pulling to one side
- Uneven tyre pressure or one tyre more worn than the others
- Wheel alignment out of specification, often after hitting a kerb or pothole
- A sticking brake caliper dragging on one wheel
- Worn steering or suspension parts such as control arm bushes or tie rod ends
- Different tyre brands or types across the same axle
Steering wheel shaking
The speed at which the shake appears helps narrow it down.
- Shake at around 80 to 120 km/h: often unbalanced wheels, which a wheel balance usually fixes
- Shake only when braking: warped brake discs
- Shake with a clunk or looseness: worn tie rods, ball joints or wheel bearings
- A bent wheel rim or a bulge in a tyre after an impact
Heavy or noisy steering
- Whining when turning: low power steering fluid or a worn pump
- Heavy steering: low fluid, a slipping belt or a stiff steering component
- Clicking when turning at low speed: a worn CV joint
What to do
Start with the easy checks: tyre pressures and any visible damage to the tyres. If the problem remains, the car needs a wheel alignment check and an inspection of the steering and suspension joints on a lift.
If your car pulls, vibrates or feels loose at the wheel, call or WhatsApp the workshop and tell us the speed and situation where it happens, and we will advise the next step.