Any driver is very alarmed by situations when vibration appears at a speed of 100-120 km/h on the steering wheel or along the body. And the point here is not only about discomfort, although it must be said that these symptoms are a rather unpleasant phenomenon. If measures are not taken to correct the problem in time, this may lead to a violation of the geometry of the body. This will not happen immediately, but slowly and gradually.
Distortions can provoke a violation of the aerodynamic characteristics, as well as deterioration of the vehicle's handling. In addition, due to vibration effects, cracks can form in the metal, which is not only dangerous in itself, but also requires expensive repairs.
And that's not the whole problem. If the car vibrates at a speed of 100-120 (VAZ 2110 is no exception), this leads to the loosening of various fasteners. This phenomenon can lead to serious consequences - accidents, as well as various malfunctions and damages, which will be very difficult to eliminate. It is worth adding that this kind of shaking is a signal of breakdowns that will yet occur in the near future.
Vibration at speeds of 100-120 km/h occurs for various reasons. These may be completely harmless problems. But sometimes there are serious cases that require global intervention in the technical structure of the car. Further in the article we will look at the typical reasons why vibration is transmitted to the steering wheel and car body at high speeds.
Balancing is out of balance
If there is vibration in the steering wheel at a speed of 100-120 km/h, the first thing you should do is inspect the wheels and tires. They're not perfect. The discs may be uneven or uneven in composition. Since the weight is different in different places of the tire or disk, during the rotation process the place where the mass is greater will pull the center of gravity towards itself. This is nothing more than the effect of centrifugal force. Accordingly, at high wheel speeds, this impact will necessarily be transmitted through the rack and rods to the steering wheel. In case of other damage for the same reason, vibration will also occur on the body.
What is the way out of this situation? The driver needs to balance the wheels. It's better to do this periodically. Balancing is also required when “re-shoeing”. What is this process? This is equalizing the weight of the wheel at each point. If violations are detected, the specialist sticks special weights on the disc.
It is impossible to operate a car for a long time on unbalanced wheels. This can cause severe wear in certain areas of the tire, which will increase vibration. Also, because of this, almost all components and suspension units of the car wear out excessively. The hub bearings are also subject to heavy loads.
What harm can vibration in a car cause?
It is quite clear that the amount of damage depends greatly on which particular unit caused the shaking of the car. If the engine mount is the culprit, for example, then a constant increase in shaking can cause a number of problems in the power unit. Increased vibration of exhaust system elements will lead to destruction of mechanical connections in this system and premature failure of a number of components.
There are also general consequences of constant strong vibration:
- increased wear of interior parts that do not like vibration, since hard plastic will actively rub against other elements and wear out;
- failure of seals that do not tolerate vibration loads, this is fraught with leakage of some technical fluids and depressurization of components;
- loss of tightness of antifreeze circulation systems; clamps may become loose, causing coolant to drip into the connections;
- maximum discomfort of traveling in a car, which can cause fatigue on long trips and decreased concentration;
- a gradual increase in vibration resonance can make it completely impossible to drive a car at a certain speed.
You should not delay calling for service if you notice vibrations and resonance in your car. Perhaps you just need to change the rubber muffler hangers to get everything back to normal. You don't necessarily have to expect expensive and complicated repairs. So it is very important to contact specialists in time for diagnostics in order to reduce the discomfort of operating the machine and significantly reduce the cost of repair work.
For useful tips on some possible causes of shaking, watch the video:
Symptoms of imbalance and diagnosis
You can determine if the balance is out of balance when driving at high speeds. In this case, vibration will be felt on the steering wheel or on the body. The problem can be diagnosed using a visual inspection. Wheel rims should be as smooth as possible, without dents. If the car has not recently driven at speed through potholes, and slight vibration is felt on the steering wheel and body, then most likely the problem is imbalanced balancing.
However, you should not think that if the steering wheel shakes, then it is enough to give only two front discs for balancing. Often the only way to fix a problem is to balance all four.
Engine vibration at idle - what can be adjusted?
In order to adjust the idle speed, you need to use some components and assemblies installed in the car. In the first case, it is a carburetor or injector that is part of the fuel system, producing a mixture of fuel and air. In addition, you need to adjust the fuel pump, check all sensors, fuel pressure regulator and other engine elements.
We recommend: The engine revs poorly - where to look for the problem?
You need to know that the number of revolutions depends on the degree of opening of the throttle valve, which regulates the air supply, as well as on the operation of the idle air valve, which supplies air independently of the throttle. You can increase the idle speed using the accelerator pedal.
Any vibrations, no matter what they occur from, have a very bad effect on the operation of the car. Vibrations cause discomfort to both the driver and passengers, and also have a bad effect on the car. Over time, cracks may be noticed on the body, and bolts and nuts may loosen. These shortcomings can lead to any consequences and cause an emergency.
The wheel alignment is broken
Directly depending on the incorrectly set angle, vibration can only occur during acceleration or in a certain speed range. Incorrect wheel alignment can be detected very quickly - tires wear unevenly.
If only the outer or only the inner part is wiped, then this is the same situation. The problem can be corrected by adjusting the angles. Then the vibration in the body at a speed of 100-120 km/h will disappear.
But the camber/toe has been adjusted, but the problem has not gone away. The angle has been corrected, that's a fact. But the car owner decided not to change the tires, because they can still drive. But the tires “drive” the way they are used to. This means that you need to change the tires or drive at low speeds for a period of time, then the tread will wear out evenly and the problem will be solved.
Mounting problems - how to test cushions?
The cause of vibration can be worn out engine mounts (mounts) or, conversely, too hard (vibration appears after installing new mounts). Supports perform two important functions at once:
- serve as elements on which the power unit is attached to the body;
- dampen engine vibrations, as a result of which they are practically not transmitted to the body.
It is very easy to distinguish vibration caused by problem pillows, since it does not depend on the operation of the cylinders. Those. the engine can operate quite stably. At the same time, when you press the gas pedal and when starting off, vibrations may increase. When accelerating and braking, knocking noises may even appear. To verify that the airbags are faulty, you can perform a visual diagnosis. For this you will need a partner.
One person rocks the car, moving sharply forward and backward, and the second watches the movement of the engine under the hood. The motor should lean slightly to the sides, and the angle of inclination should always be the same. If the power unit, as they say, “dangles,” then it is necessary to replace the pillows. It must be said that it is recommended to change pillows, even if they have no visible damage. After installing the new supports, they need to be adjusted. Incorrectly adjusted fasteners can also cause vibrations and knocking.
Vibration in the body and deformed rims
Often the cause of unpleasant vibrations is disc deformation. This is easily determined on balancing stands. Most often, deformations occur due to driving through potholes. The problem occurs in the spring, when their numbers increase.
If it is not possible to go to the stand, then you can try to find the dent visually. Most severely, the disc jams from the inside. Stamped steel wheels are more likely to deform than their cast counterparts.
In addition to dents, vibration at speeds of 100-120 km/h can also be caused by simply a curved disk. At the same time, the wheel can rotate smoothly on the stand. This is because it is attached to the device through the central hole. On a car, the wheel is not centered when installed. Warped discs also come from the factory.
Diesel vibration at idle
At first glance, everything is simpler here: there are no spark plugs, no distributors. However, the “shaking” of a car equipped with a diesel engine indicates more serious and “costly” problems:
- Failure of the injection pump, which can only be checked using special equipment.
- Injector contamination. Their cleaning is carried out in specialized technical centers.
If vibration occurs at idle, checking the diesel unit should begin by determining the compression in the cylinders. If it does not meet the standard, the mixture will not ignite and the engine will begin to shake. The second stage of testing is to check the alignment of the marks on the power unit cover and the camshaft pulley. If the injection angle is incorrect, the diesel engine will operate unstably.
Chassis
Here, just like with wheels, several reasons can be identified. So, when the drive shaft bends, vibration will certainly occur on the wheel. This will be indicated by constant shaking when starting to move. Its strength will increase with acceleration. At a speed of 100 km/h the car turns into a rattle. And if you accelerate even more, the car leaves a straight path.
Often vibration at speeds of 100-120 occurs after replacing brake discs. Shaking will alert the car owner that the disc is not securely fastened. At speed, the disc suffers from play, which affects the body and steering wheel.
CV joints are another reason. You can check this element very simply. It is enough to take the articulated shaft and try to turn it. If play is observed, even if small, the CV joint must be replaced. An additional sign is a torn boot.
And, of course, it's worth checking the wheel bearings. If they are damaged, the body will definitely vibrate. Shaking is felt at any speed.
Worn suspension
Heavily worn chassis components can cause vibration in the steering wheel. Suspension affects the vehicle's contact with the road. If there is play in the chassis, then this is the cause of the imbalance during rotation. But suspension play is only a “catalyst” for wheel vibration. It in itself cannot serve as the main reason for steering wheel vibration.
Speeds of 100-120 (VAZ - 2108 is no exception) can demonstrate it to you when the car has a faulty steering mechanism. It is necessary to eliminate these breakdowns first. It may be dangerous. However, problems should be diagnosed last, if all other components are in perfect order.
Wheels are loose
This problem is easy to identify and fix, as it causes vibration at speeds of 100-120. The VAZ-2110 will make a characteristic dull sound. The problem is the loose nuts and bolts securing one wheel or several. Do not neglect checking, it can be dangerous. The wheel may simply unscrew while driving.
The beating itself is very reminiscent of vibrations on the steering wheel and body when the reason was in the wheels and tires. The difference here is that this shaking begins at low speeds. This phenomenon can be observed at different speeds.
So, we found out for what reasons vibration occurs on the body when driving at speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour.
When braking
Body vibration during braking can occur due to wear of the brake system components, wheel imbalance, or due to poor, “bald” tires. The causes of vehicle vibration may be associated with breakdown or wear of the following parts of the brake system:
- hubs;
- brake discs;
- drums
If at idle the engine runs smoothly, acceleration and driving proceed without noticeable shaking, but when braking the car “throws” - you need to check the bolt pattern of the wheel rims and the tightening of all screws.
Standard diagnostics, which are recommended to be done once a year, help prevent body shakes from occurring. But if a problem appears, you will have to check all the components of the car, even if the reason is a loose bolt.
