Most people experience car shaking when accelerating but not when coasting. This can lead to a lot of unpleasant experiences and frustration.
However, while some possible causes for this issue are more apparent than others, the cause of your car shaking is often difficult to determine without professional help.
This article aims to help shed a light on possible things that may cause a car to shake when accelerating but not when coasting, lets jump straight to it.
What Causes a Car to Shake when Accelerating but Not When Coasting
In short, Common Causes for a car to shake when accelerating are bad CV joints, worn wheel bearings, worn engine mounts, loose bad vacuum leaks, unbalanced tires, and your axle may be bent could cause you to experience this anomaly.
1. Bad CV Joints:
CV Joints are one of the most common causes for shaking when accelerating but not when coasting. A lot of people are under the impression that CV joints are only meant to connect the transmission to the axle.
However, this is far from being true. CV joints are designed to permit both rotation and prevent movement along the axis of the shaft. The way in which they do this is by having a cross-shaped inner CV that meshes with a flat outer CV.
2. Wheel Bearing failure or loose:
Another common cause for shaking when accelerating is a loose or worn wheel bearing. This is one of the most difficult culprits to identify because most people don’t even know they have a problem until it’s too late.
Wheel bearings are designed to allow free rotation of the wheel, but at the same time, they are designed to keep the wheel aligned with its axis. However, cracks can form in bearings which will result in it being able to move along its axis.
3. Engine Mounts are Worn Out:
Engine mounts play a very important role in isolating the engine from its frame and isolating other components from vibrations. Engine mounts usually last anywhere from 5 to 7 years before they need replacement.
A worn-out engine mount can result in your vehicle rattling, squeaking, and shaking while accelerating.
4. Lugs nuts that are Loose:
Lugs nuts are a vital part of wheel studs and your suspension system. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but the basic function is to tighten the hub of a wheel connected to the axle.
Some lug nuts can be too loose while others may not be tight enough. If they’re not tight enough, you will feel a lot of shaking while accelerating and cornering causing you to lose control of your vehicle.
5. vacuum leak:
Another common cause of shaking when accelerating but not when coasting is a vacuum leak. A vacuum leak can be caused by a number of things such as a cracked intake hose, a faulty intake manifold gasket.
6. Unstable Tires:
unbalanced tires can also be the cause of your vehicle shaking while accelerating. This is usually caused by uneven wear. However, it can also be caused by incorrect tire pressure.
If you have an uneven tread on your tires, it will cause vibrations that will manifest themselves into shaking while accelerating and cornering.
7. Bent Axle:
One of the most common causes of shaking when accelerating but not when coasting is your axle is bent. This can be very easily fixed by taking your car to a shop or mechanic and having it straightened.
However, if you have already done all this, you should still check if it’s bent again because sometimes small bends are visible only at certain angles.
8. Worn Out Clutch:
Another cause of shaking when accelerating but not when coasting is your clutch. This is really common and most people don’t even know that the cause for this is a worn out or worn out pressure plate.
A worn-out pressure plate will not transmit the right amount of torque to the flywheel which will result in you having to rev up more than usual when accelerating and cornering If your clutch is finished/worn out can cause a car to shake a lot.
9. Bad brake Calipers:
Bad brake calipers can also be a reason for shaking when accelerating but not when coasting. If your brake calipers are not working properly, they will not be able to stop your vehicle from rolling.
This will cause the wheels to move in an uneven manner which will cause vibration in the car
10. Defective Struts or Shocks:
A cracked or broken strut which is very common in these modern times can also cause your car to shake when accelerating but not when coasting.
Conclusion on Car Shaking when Accelerating
A lot of things can be a reason why your vehicle shakes when accelerating. It is not clear what causes your vehicle to shake when accelerating but not when coasting. However, if you are experiencing this issue, it is probably worth checking whether the above reasons are the cause of this.
Robert Anderson is a world class motorhead who rebuilt his first carb at age 10, his first engine at age 15, and completed his first full hotrod build when he was just 18! Previously, he has ran a part warehouse, delivered pizzas, and managed the service department for a $20 million/year revenue dealership. Robert knows cars like few others and he is passionate about sharing his knowledge.
