When does the steering wheel vibrate?
Pay attention to whether the vibration appears only at a certain speed, when braking, when accelerating or also on bumps. This information will help the service to choose the correct inspection, but it does not in itself determine the specific defective part.
Vibration at a certain speed
A common cause is an unbalanced wheel, a damaged tire, dirt between the wheel and the hub or a deformed disc. After hitting a pothole, it is also advisable to check the clearances of the chassis and the geometry.
It vibrates mainly when braking
If the vibration intensifies when the brake pedal is depressed, the brake discs, their seating, the hub and the axle play need to be checked. Replacing parts just by feel may be useless, so measuring and checking on the jack takes precedence.
When the car pulls to the side at the same time
A crooked steering wheel, uncertain vehicle handling or uneven tires can indicate incorrect geometry. But the adjustment is done only after checking the pressure, tires and chassis; the adjustment itself will not remove the backlash in the axle.
When not to wait with control
Stop driving if the vibrations suddenly increase significantly, the car becomes harder to control, the wheel is visibly damaged or there are loud bangs. Order the milder repetitive vibrations to be checked before they begin to wear the tires irregularly or cover up a more serious problem.
Every vehicle and fault is different. This article provides general guidance; an inspection of the specific vehicle determines the correct procedure.