egine shakes at high speed

[bb00y]

hi,
i have 95 toyota corolla and at speed over 65mph the steering wheel starts to shake. is it because the engine is rotating so fast at that speed that it shakes? of course i drive at speed over 65 on the highway. i was wondering if anybody knows whether it's safe to leave it like that(shaking while driving)? should i get it fix? my friend said something about putting a strut bar which holds the egine in place.
thanks for any help.

[blkZ28Conv]

This vibration, if not internal in origin, is probably related to a failed engine mount. This is not safe or good for the vehicle. Check and replace ASAP if this is the problem.

[Aurora40]

It could also be a wheel/tire balance problem. Whatever rpm the engine is at while traveling 65 will also be reached at lower speeds in lower gears. So if it is engine shaking, you should notice it anytime the engine spins that fast. Also, engine vibration is usually most noticeable when in neutral since it isn't braced by the tranny then. Try putting it in neutral and punching the gas a few times. See if there is some unnatural vibration. This will help you narrow down the cause of it.

[Jngrbrdman]

I agree with Aurora40. It sounds more like a wheel/suspension problem. Does the car pull to either direction if you let go of the wheel? Did you recently bend a rim or hit a curb or anything like that? A bent rim will give you that exact same reaction.

Your engine isn't attached to your steering wheel. If your steering wheel is shaking then the problem is attached to it somewhere. There are only two things attached to your steering wheel; Your right and left front wheels.

P.S. Strut bars don't hold your engine in place. They go over your wheel wells and help reduce body roll. It is a suspension upgrade and has nothing to do with the engine. The silver bar across my engine in this picture is a strut bar.

[barryscott]

I am with the others here, sounds like you only need to have your tires balanced.

[bb00y]

thanks for the reply.
yeah, it does pull to one side when i let go of the wheel.
i will get it check out. if i leave it as it is(the wheel vibrating at high speed), will it screw up my car?
thanks

[Jngrbrdman]

Originally posted by bb00y
thanks for the reply.
yeah, it does pull to one side when i let go of the wheel.
i will get it check out. if i leave it as it is(the wheel vibrating at high speed), will it screw up my car?
thanks

Will it screw up your car? Yeah. When your wheel falls off and you go off into the guard rail or another car at 65 mph then I'd say it will mess your car up pretty bad. Get that checked out as soon as you can. It could be something simple like an alignment or it could be something serious like 3 lug nuts are about a quarter twist from falling off.

[Iconoclast]

Originally posted by Jngrbrdman
It could be something simple like an alignment or it could be something serious like 3 lug nuts are about a quarter twist from falling off.

Yeah check the tire wear for uneveness. Could just need an alignment or balancing; or like jngr said your tire could be barely hanging on. I had a friend whose tire fell off while he was driving his ford pickup after getting some new tires put on.
Either way get it looked at since it will damage your tire(s) and maybe suspension.

[bb00y]

thanks for all the help.