Under normal driving conditions, your car does not shudder or shake when accelerating. You have a suspension system which keeps the shaking and vibrations to a minimum. This system allows there to be a smooth driving experience for both you and your passengers. That is why any kind of shakiness that occurs in the car will mean there is trouble somewhere in the suspension system or one of its corresponding components. You may even experience the shakiness while braking or remaining idle too. But the must intense shuddering will occur when you’re accelerating and when the vehicle is in motion.
Now, why does this happen? Well, there are so many different possible causes which might be responsible for the shuddering. It could be a problem with one of the internal components or maybe a problem with the wheels or tires. The only way you’re going to diagnose the cause of the problem is to inspect all the common areas which cause shuddering.
Top 5 Causes
Below are the top 5 causes of car shudders when accelerating. If you notice any of these causes to be present, then replace the necessary components to fix the problem.
1) Worn Tire Treads
Something as simple as worn out tire treads can cause shuddering as you drive. Check the treads of your tires and see if they’re flat or not. If you have flat treads and car shuddering problems together, then you need to replace your tires to stop the shuddering. Treads are important to have on tires because they grip the road as the wheels rotate. Without good treads, there is no grip and the vehicle will shake because of it.
2) Bad Engine Mount
The engine mount is a component which keeps the engine securely inside the engine bay and prevents it from banging around against the walls of the bay. The mount has a very important job because it keeps the engine connected to the body of the vehicle. It also keeps the transmission connected to the body too. Therefore, if the engine mount wears out or goes bad, you’re going to experience a lot of shuddering coming from the engine or transmission when the vehicle is in motion.
3) Wheel Bearings Are Loose
The wheels of your vehicle are lubricated by the wheel bearings. Since wheels produce heat when they rotate, the wheel bearings keep the heat under control. But if you have loose wheel bearings, there will be heat and instability in the wheels. This instability will cause car shuddering as you drive. You need to replace the loose wheel bearings to restore the lubrication and stability in the wheels.
4) Axles are Bent
The axles are what keep your wheels secure, stable and consistent as they’re rotating. But there are situations where your axles may get bent. If you normally drive your car over rough roads and bumps, the axles could suffer some damage as a result. Eventually, there will be a lot of shuddering whenever you accelerate the vehicle if the axles get too bent. It won’t necessarily be a cheap job to replace the axles, but it is the only way to get rid of the shuddering if this is the cause. Read also:
- 9 Common Parts in the Car Hydraulic Power Steering System and the Functions
- 5 Symptoms of a Bad Speed Sensor in Your Car
- 5 Symptoms of a Bad Serpentine Belt in Your Car
5) Propeller Shaft Issues
In vehicles which have a propeller shaft for the rear wheels, you may experience shuddering if the shaft goes bad. Remember this shaft is what delivers engine power to those rear wheels. If the wheels don’t receive this power because of a bad propeller shaft, then it creates inconsistency in the rotation of the wheels. You can fix this inconsistency by replacing the propeller shaft.
