Brake pedal pulsates when braking

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.

3 Replies

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

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Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 7:24 PM

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.

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Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 7:40 PM

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

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Sunday, April 11th, 2021 AT 8:14 PM