Brake pedal pulsates when braking

2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
183,000 MILES • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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DIVIDES
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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.
Apr 11, 2021 at 9:55 AM
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KASEKENNY
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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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Apr 11, 2021 at 7:24 PM
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DIVIDES
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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.
Apr 11, 2021 at 7:40 PM
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KASEKENNY
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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
Apr 11, 2021 at 8:14 PM