hey. the steering wheel in my civic is vibrating rapidly at all speeds. is this caused from something simple as just an alignment. i do need an alignment, but is that what you think would be causing this?? thanks for the help!

 

Does the wheel also vibrate at idle? Try to give more detail about the problem and what you have already checked or recently done to the car.

 

Vibrating only when you use the brakes is a bad brake rotor. Vibrating otherwise but only when the car is moving is usually a tire that is out of balance (gets worse at higher speeds) or not round (about the same at all speeds, or worse at lower speeds). Being out of alignment doesn't cause this.

 

it does not vibrate at idle. it does vibrate as i brake (the harder i brake, the more it vibrates). havent done anything recently that i could think would cause this.

 

generally speaking, it does get worse at higher speeds...

 

It sounds like you may have two separate problems: (1) warped brake rotor(s) and (2) out of balanced wheel or damaged tire (as already clearly described by mk).

I would recommend that you address the brake problem first to see if the problems go away. If not, next check the wheel balance and tires.

 

why shouldnt i get it aligned first and then check the rotors if that doesnt fix it?? is it cuz its free to check the rotors or is there a different reason?

 

A bad alignment generally causes the car to pull right or left but not a vibrating steering wheel, so don't get an alignment.

The increase vibration while braking suggests to me that a brake rotor(s) is badly warped. As this is potential safety issue, I would address it first.

 

sorry.....i meant to say rotate and balanced

 

Yeah, that's fine too. While the wheels are off, inspect the brakes too.