If a car is vibrating at 60mph, you need to figure out what is causing the vibrations. There are several reasons why a car might shake, and it’s essential to identify where the shaking is coming from as this may indicate different components in your vehicle that need replacing. On this page, you can find the answer to why my car shakes when I hit 60 mph.
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The reason your car shakes when you hit 60 mph is unbalanced tires, misaligned tires, loose engine mounts, faulty brake rotors, and calipers, misfiring spark plugs, and slipping gears.
If your car is shaking and you have already checked the tires, several things could be. To narrow down the cause of the steering wheel shaking when driving at 60mph, read through this page.
My car shakes when I hit 60 mph.
It is usual for the car to shake a bit when you hit 60 mph. However, if your car shakes more than just a little, it might be time to check your steering and suspension system. This can be dangerous and lead to a costly repair bill if left unattended.
There are many reasons your car will shake whenever you hit 60mph. At first, it was not a problem or concern for me, and then I couldn’t bear the vibration anymore and had to sort out the causes and solutions.
So, here are some reasons your car will shake whenever you hit 60mph.
1. Loose engine mounts
When your engine mount is loose, you can feel what feels like the engine vibrating, and it gives you a very rough rattle in your vehicle. The engine mount bolts up to the bottom of your car basically as a connection point between the engine and the car frame.
Any loose mounts can cause the engine to move around more than usual. More movement means more vibration, which you’ll feel in the steering wheel, gas pedal, and brakes.
Therefore, you need to make sure that they are snug at all times. If one or the other did come to loose, you could always fix it yourself with a few nuts, bolts, and some washers. Better still, you should get the car to your mechanic to fix the issue for you.
2. Imbalance tires
Imbalanced tires can cause a car to shake when hitting 60 MPH. Tires not being balanced correctly can throw off the balance of your car and will cause unnecessary shaking. This shaking can make your ride less comfortable and safe.
If a tire is out of balance, it’s going to shake and vibrate a lot at high speeds. You may even feel the car pulling in a specific direction as you drive. The faster you go, the more complex the shake gets.
If you experience this, you should get your car to the auto care shop to balance your tires. It does not cost much, and it will help you get your car back to its best condition.
3. Tires out of alignment
If your car shakes at 60 mph, it is more than likely a problem with the tires, such as low pressure. Other reasons could be the misalignment of the steering wheel and exhaust systems.
Always get your tires at the right psi and check if they are well aligned. If not, you should do the alignment for the safety and longevity of your tires.
4. Faulty brake rotors
One of the most common reasons your car shakes when you hit 60 mph is faulty brake rotors. If your rotors are warped (meaning not perfectly flat) or seriously worn out, they can cause your car to shake or vibrate when you brake.
Also, if the brake rotors on your car are worn, it may cause the steering wheel or vehicle to shake when you apply the brakes. Check the rotors for any signs of wear, and if they are wearing differently on one side or there is extensive wear, then the rotors should be replaced.
5. Faulty brake calipers
Faulty brake calipers can cause your car to shake when you hit 60 mph. The brake caliper will likely notice the shaking when traveling down a highway. Warped rotors and stock calipers cause this shaking.
When you reach freeway speeds, a sticky or damaged caliper leads to a vehicle that sways from side to side. You will also experience longer-than-normal braking distances, and the noise of your brakes will change as well. If you see brake fluid leaking, this is another indicator that your calipers need to be replaced.
6. Misfiring spark plugs
A misfiring spark plug can also cause a shaking sensation. When a spark plug misfires, the combustion cycle is interrupted, and the engine vibrates when the pistons are under pressure.
Misfiring results from the engine cylinders failing to ignite or misfiring when they are supposed to. When this happens, the car shakes, as you described, at 60 miles per hour. The cause of this varies from worn spark plugs or bad wiring in your car’s distributor cap.
7. Slipping gears
The car shakes when clutches slip out, and worn gear clutches cause slippage. When the gear clutches wear out, the car computer cannot shift smoothly, resulting in a rough ride. If this problem isn’t solved quickly, it can result in significant problems, including losing control of the truck while driving.
The transmission gear could slip when you hit 60. This is a common issue and can happen for many reasons. They include low transmission fluid due to leaks and age, the vibration of the car, and worn motor mounts, some of which may be deteriorated or broken.
These conditions can increase the stress on your transmission, weakening it even more. Therefore, if you notice any signs your gear is slipping, you should do well to get it to the mechanic for proper fixing.
When I hit 60 mph my car shakes and goes away at 70.
When your car starts shaking at high speeds, generally over 70 mph, it is often a sign that you are experiencing one of these common problems. Because driving over 70 miles per hour puts a strain on the tires and other components, minor issues like rotating wheels, misaligned tires, or bad wheels can lead to problems when you hit higher speeds. Here are the common reasons you should know.
Bad wheel bearing
A bad wheel bearing is typically the biggest culprit for car instability at high speeds, but there are other potential causes for your car shake.
A scraping sound can identify a bad wheel bearing. You may also notice a pulling feeling when driving and making turns or feel the car shaking over 70 mph. If you think your wheel bearing may need to be replaced, schedule an appointment with your mechanics.
Imbalance and misaligned tires
Also, this could be caused by uneven tire wear, which could mean several things. Low tire pressure, misaligned tires/suspension, or faulty road force balancing are just a few common causes of uneven tire wear. We recommend visiting your nearest Auto Care for a complimentary alignment check.
Bad catalytic converter
A bad catalytic converter may cause your car to shake when driving over 70 mph or accelerate. A bad catalytic converter will cause increased exhaust noise, rough idle, and hesitation when accelerating.
If this is the case, record the speed at which these problems occur so that you can tell the mechanic exactly what’s wrong. The best solution is to replace the catalytic converter.
In addition, replacing the spark plugs and inspecting the wires, or all ignition components, including the distributor cap and rotor, are simple steps to take before replacing a potentially expensive catalytic converter.
Car shakes between 20-30 mph
If your car shakes between 20 to 30 mph, the engine mounts will often cause such a vibration. The two front engine mounts attach the engine to the car’s frame at the top and bottom of the engine, while the rear engine mount secures the back of the engine to the body.
When any of these parts fail due to wear and tear, your driving can be difficult and uncomfortable. So, you should tell your mechanic to check for this, and if it is not the cause of shaking, you can check for other reasons.
Also, if your car is shaking because the tires are not correctly balanced or are out of round, you should get them balanced. You can bring it to a tire shop, and they will do it for you.
In addition, the shaking may be a result of nasty shocks, struts, or engine mounts. Another cause of car shaking is an issue with the tires, resulting in an unbalanced wheel or uneven tread. The best solution is to get to your mechanic and fix the car.
The car vibrates at certain speeds
There could be various reasons why tires vibrate, from low air pressure to wheel misalignment. Although your tires look perfectly fine, a simple tire rotation and balance may be necessary for a smooth ride.
If your car is vibrating between 40 and 60 mph, it may be a sign that your tires need to be balanced. Driving with an unbalanced tire can cause steering wheel vibration, and visible signs of wear will develop prematurely on one side of the tire.
In manual vehicles, the most common cause of vibration is the clutch. When you depress the clutch pedal, it disengages the flywheel from the rest of the drivetrain, allowing you to switch gears.
If a manual vehicle is vibrating, this could mean that something is rubbing against a part of your clutch or that there is a problem with your clutch disk.
The car vibrates between 30 and 40 mph.
If your car vibrates between 30 and 40 mph, it could be caused by the problems I have mentioned above. This problem needs to be seen by a certified repair shop. The mechanic will need to examine the entire vehicle and determine what is causing the issue.
You can ask them to plug in a scan tool and see if anything turns up on the computer. There could be an alignment problem, CV joint or axle issue, or possibly a transmission or tire-related problem. It will take some inspecting, testing, and replacing on your mechanic’s part to track down the cause of the vibration.
Is it safe to drive when your car is shaking?
It is not safe to drive when your car is shaking. Certain driving conditions may increase the tendency of the vehicle to vibrate. These include high engine idle speeds low tire air pressure, misalignment of the wheels, or out-of-balance tires or wheels.
If your car is shaking or vibrating while you drive, it could be an issue with the mentioned components or more. While vehicle shaking can be alarming, it most likely means there is an issue with the car.
So, your best way to be safe is to get the car to the mechanic for proper inspection and fixing.
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How do I fix my car from shaking?
To fix your car shaking, you will need to determine where it’s coming from. Some leading causes could be a worn motor or transmission mount or damaged tires and wheels. If the issue is tiring, they might need to be balanced, rotated, or replaced. The best thing you can do if you’re unsure of the problem is to get a mechanic to look at it.
Can transmission cause the car to shake?
Yes. If the car shakes only when the transmission is in drive, you may have a bad torque converter that needs to be rebuilt or replaced. Several components may cause a shaking movement in your vehicle.
These include the brake, tire and wheel assemblies, and a control arm. In addition, the transmission could also cause a shaking movement in your vehicle.
Any shifting issues, along with worn-out engine mounts or loose drivetrain components, can result in excessive shaking felt while driving or stopped at idle.
Can bad alignment cause vibration?
Yes, bad alignment can cause vibration. Also, worn tires, out-of-round tires, and improper balance can contribute to shaking, shimmy, and vibration. If necessary, rotate your tires to even more tread wear.
Once the alignment is off, the tires will start to wear unevenly and cause severe vibration throughout the car. However, it’s not a good idea to choose alignment as the main reason for vibration until every other possibility has been ruled out.
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Can bad rear rotors cause shaking?
Yes, bad rear rotors can cause shaking. Have your vehicle’s rotors inspected for wrap and brake shoes for gouging or crushing? A rear rotor that has been damaged can cause shaking.
The shaking occurs because the bad rotor results in a varying pad on the rotor. This is a common problem that can be fixed with the help of a skilled mechanic who will check for this exact problem.
Will an alignment fix shaking?
It is unlikely that a wheel alignment will fix the shaking you are describing. If the shakes start at 65-70, it is more likely to be the differential or driveshaft. A four-wheel alignment can easily be performed at most centers reasonably cheaply if you want to rule out anything suspension related.
The first thing to check if your car is shaking is the wheels. If your tires are out of alignment, they can shake at highway speeds or when turning a corner. The fix is alignment, or you may even be able to rotate your tires to hide the shaking at least until you get the alignment done.
How much does it cost to balance the rotors?
It varies. The cost to balance rotors depends on the make and year of your vehicle, whether you get front or rear rotors balanced, where you have the rotor balancing done, and how many rotors need balancing.
Costs vary, but you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 to balance your rotors. This process is known as a brake job and involves removing the tire, caliper, brake pad, and rotor.
The machine then uses heavy metal weights that are attached to the rim of the wheel to measure vibrations.
Some car manufacturers now build brake rotors that are balanced during the manufacturing process. These are considered to be lifetime rotor, and, as such, they cannot be balanced in between brake jobs on the vehicle, regardless of wear or damage.
On most vehicles, it is possible to “turn” the rotors when they start getting excessively worn to tire up their surface and make them work better. They can also be cut with a lathe for an exact fit.
It is difficult to give an overall cost for balancing rotors on any given car because the amount of labor varies from one location to the next. Also, many places will only balance a rotor if you purchase it from them.
Some charge $15 or so, while others will quote a higher price until they have seen the rotor itself and checked it against their databases of known rotors, and measured its weight, which must be done before it can be balanced.
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Why is my car shuddering?
Car shudders may indicate a transmission problem. The cause may be internal to the transmission, or it may be related to the torque converter or other components.
When a car shudders upon acceleration, try these fixes: change your transmission fluid, get your spark plugs replaced, and Repair any damage to your catalytic converter.
Conclusion
No one likes it when a car vibrates, especially at high speed. It affects the ride’s performance and makes it unpleasant. It is the reason I have come up with the reasons and ways you can fix it. This page on how my car shakes when I hit 60 mph discusses all the possible reasons your car will shake or vibrate and what you need to do once it happens.