Why Is My Audi Car Vibrating While Driving?

For many drivers, there’s nothing quite like the combination of sporty handling and luxury comfort that Audi vehicles are known for. However, if you’ve noticed some unwanted vibrations emerging from your Audi lately, it could be a sign that something needs to be looked at. 

At our Audi service center, our skilled technicians have seen it all regarding car vibrating issues. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common culprits blamed for a vibrating Audi.

Audi Car Vibrating: Most Common Reasons

Before diving into potential culprits, it’s important to take note of when and where exactly you notice the shaking occurring. Is it at certain speeds? Only while braking? Constant or intermittent? Narrowing down these details will help the technicians hone in faster on the source during inspection. Now let’s explore the reasons:

Old Tires

One of the most common reasons for a car vibrating is old tires. Just like any other component, tires wear down over thousands of miles of use. The tread wears thinner, and individual spots within the tire’s structure can develop flats or bulges, causing it to go out of round over time. Tires more than 6 years old are at higher risk of this, regardless of how much tread seems to be left.

Beyond just tread wear, old tires are more susceptible to weather-related damage as well. The sidewalls can develop small cracks or splits from prolonged sun exposure. This is known as dry rot and compromises structural integrity. 

When old tires are remounted after a balance or alignment adjustment, any out-of-roundness or damage is still present and will continue causing a vibration. In many cases, replacing tires that are over half a decade old eliminates shake, even if the tread looks good.

Out-Of-Round Tires

No tire, not even a new one, is perfectly circular. Manufacturers allow for a certain amount of “run-out” or deviation from true roundness within specifications. But excess run-out beyond tolerances absolutely generates noticeable vibrations.

The most accurate way to measure run-out is by rolling the assembled wheel and tire assembly on a flat surface, placing a dial indicator against the tread, and noting any bumps or dips in the circumference. Our technicians are trained to carefully analyze each tire this way to spot problematic ones needing replacement. Even tires with good tread may harbor out-of-roundness that can be felt during driving.

Out Of Balance Tires

Even brand-new tires can develop balance issues, especially if they experience a puncture or curb rash that’s repaired. Road hazards, the wear process itself, and tire damage are common causes of developing out-of-balance spots over time.

More advanced cases may stem from manufacturing imperfections that weren’t fully corrected at the plant either. Our state-of-the-art wheel balancing machines can identify small uneven weight distributions. By applying balancing weights in precise locations, we eliminate any shimmy caused by out-of-round tires or an unbalanced wheel assembly.

Damaged Wheels

Curb rash, small cracks, and bent areas on a wheel can’t be balanced out since they disrupt the structure. Any damaged wheel is incapable of maintaining balanced tires in the proper location. Attempting balance corrections on a bent, warped, or cracked wheel is simply wasting time and money.

Our ability to assess wheel conditions thoroughly is important because structural issues are often hard to spot from a distance. With wheel removal, our parts department stocks genuine Audi wheels, so a safe, consistent, and reliable replacement can be performed when issues like cracking, curb damage, or true wheel bends are present.

Engine Problems

From faulty spark plugs or fuel injectors to wear in motor mounts or transmission mounts, internal engine issues can all potentially induce significant vibration into the driveline. This transmits shaking throughout the entire vehicle.

Factors like engine misfires under load, inconsistent idle quality, sudden loss of power, or new knocking/rattling sounds alongside a shimmy usually point to an engine issue rather than tires or wheels. Our diagnostic software connects directly to vehicle control modules for precise trouble code retrieval and comprehensive component testing. Pinpointing the mechanical problem source is key before any car engine repair and driveability concerns can be fully resolved.

Bent Axle or DriveShaft 

Impact damage, advanced rust corrosion weakening metal integrity over time, and aftermarket modifications gone wrong – these are all hazards that can compromise axles and driveshafts. Bends induce direct vibrations since they interrupt smooth power transfer.

Only clearly visible when a vehicle is hoisted on automated lifts, bent driveline components may not cause noticeable symptoms right away. But over more miles, the unbalanced forces gradually worsen and transmit unrefined shaking up through the chassis to the passenger area. As Audi experts, we know how to diagnose potential issues in these critical areas.

Suspension Alignment Issues

Along with inspections done on a lift, our alignment rack allows adjusting toe, caster and camber specifications on all four wheels during a pulled alignment reading. This identifies irregularities like worn bushings, ball joints, tie rods, or suspension arms, letting components move out of factory specification tolerances.

Even seemingly small misalignments accumulate over bumpy road surfaces, disrupting your ride quality and potentially prematurely wearing tires. We correct any issues with design specifications using the latest alignment machines. This refines handling balance and steering feel while eliminating alignment-induced vibrations as well.

So, in summary – if your Audi feels unsettled, don’t hesitate to call our Audi service center to schedule an inspection. Our Audi technicians have the expertise to thoroughly diagnose vibration concerns, big or small. With original diagnostic tools, we’ll find the root cause and handle repairs using only genuine Audi parts for guaranteed reliability and refinement. Your driving enjoyment is our top priority!