What could be wrong with my car? Burning rubber smell and smoke?

It is the drivers side strut that rusted out collapsing the strut mount onto the inside edge of the tire, chewing the tire up. The car is dangerous to drive in that condition. Take it to a reputable car repair place and expect to pay upwards of $600.00.

However, if you are petite, young and cute, try crying and you can probably get the price down to somewhere between three and four hundred.

Based on you didn't mention about hitting the tire to something, then I assume there is no problem with your tire to the wheel alignment. I believe your car is a Front Wheel Drive car, which is the gearbox (transmission) is at front of the car, side of the engine. The problem is come from the clutch, there is a slip to the clutch, shown by smoke and rubber smell only on driving not idle. The clutch can't hold the load it has, the rubber smell is a burning clutch. For first to check, if you have a manual drive, do bleeding the clutch. If you have an auto drive, do check the oil condition for level and proper to use, the worn oil will make oil lost it pressure to work. About the steering, it shale because in Front Wheel Drive the steering axle is directly connecting to the transmission, a bad work of transmission will effecting the steering. Not like the Rear Wheel Drive, which the transmission doesn't connecting the steering.

I hate to say it , but it could be a tranny problem. Transaxles or transmission have rubber components inside. When something gets too hot and the car does not run well, the rubber heats up in the tranny. The fact that the steering wheel was shaking also points to that fact. Either ways, it can also be the clutch if it has one. It costs quite a bit to have the tranny repaired. Probably they will replace it.

there is a bearing going bad in something under the hood, as a guess the steering pump is failing, and the waterpump of the car is frying the belt that goes to the power steering, you dont say make model or year, but I can tell you do not drive the car, It needs some minor repair now, if you continue to drive, shortly that belt will melt break and then you are stuck. If it is saftly at your house, find a good mechanic, and get the car to him, if you have triple aaa use it, it is not goin far. good luck

Along with the oil leak theory, I would look for wires that might be getting hot, and burning, like a short in wiring somewhere. The rubber smell to me means wire insulation, or it could also be a fan belt slipping and causing the smell. I have had wires touching the exhuast manifold and burning completely through, shorting the wire and causing the car to stop running. It is an old car, though and wires are hanging loose all over. the ignition wire happened to touch the hot exhuast and burned, and of course, the car died. But, have your mechanic look for bare wires. Just a thought.

Its could be the alignment in your tires is very badly off and rubbing against something, its highly unlikely but it would cause the smoke, shaking, and burning rubber smell

check your belts run your hands on the underside of the belts while the car is off of course and check to see if it's burnt .. sometimes if the belt is a bit loose the pully jumps on the belt a bit and slips and causes it to burn also check to make sure the belts are tight also there is a chance you have a spent bearing thou if its starting to seize you should *hear* something ..