Brake pedal pulsates when braking

Tiny
DIVIDES
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 183,000 MILES
It's not the same pulsation you usually get when the rotors are bad. I have seen this on many Toyotas and Lexus and cannot figure it out. I installed new rotors and brakes and same results. This one here when applying the brakes at the lights to a stop you feel a pulse in the front, steering does not shake, rear brakes also new. I also regreased all the pins and they move freely.
Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 9:55 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Just to be clear, the pulsation is felt in the brake pedal or in the floor board?

If the pulsation is in the pedal then I suspect you have excess runout in the hub or rotor.

I attached the process from the manual on how to check this but when you put the rotors on, did you clean the hub with a friction disc of any rust?

If not, then this runout will cause pulsations similar to a warped rotor.

Please review this and let me know what questions you have. Thanks
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
DIVIDES
  • MEMBER
  • 898 POSTS
I am sure it's felt in the brake pedal, and yes I cleaned the hub as much as I can, I always do. But with Toyotas it's almost always never the rotors that are bad. I will check the hub.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 7:40 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Agreed. If you have a small amount of runout on the hub then that will be amplified as the surface diameter increases.

Let us know what you find. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 8:14 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Brake Pulsate Content

VIEW MORE