Pulsating Brakes

Hey guys, took the truck out for a drive today. Roughly 90 mile round trip. First time taking the truck out in about three weals due to being quarantined. Noticed right away the brakes were pulsating similar to having a warped brake rotor. 2020 trd sport with hair over 6000 miles. Could this just be from it sitting so long? It didn’t go away throughout my drive. Thanks for input.

 

Yeah, I had this happen a few years ago on my GMC Sierra. I put very few miles on it, maybe 5,000 a year. Surface rust would build up on the rotors causing the pulsing.
You can have the rotors replaced or turned (cleaned). It's a bummer, but small potatoes in the big picture.

 

Yeah that’s what I was afraid of. But I would’ve thought that the first time the brakes are applied, the surface rust would come off and back to normal

 

Post some pics of the rotors....

 

I can take some tomorrow when it’s light out.

 

My tires (good Michelins) will feel 'flat' on one side for a few miles after sitting just 5 days, could be a combo tire and brake thing.....take it around the block a fews times more often....

 

I would go out and do something similar to a break in procedure on them.

 

We’ve been on quarantine because of the damn virus and not allowed to leave the house. Normal, this is my DD and I rarely go a day where it’s not driven. I don’t think it’s the tires because it’s only when I apply the brakes.

 

What’s this break in procedure?

 

How you would typically bed in new brake pads. Series of heavy hard braking without coming to a stop.

 

Oh yeah. My wife was in the car and should would have just yelled at me doing it lol. Next drive I’ll try that and see if it fixes it

 

I'm pretty sure I have read that this is a known issue with tundras. I'd bring it to the dealer when you can. In the mean time, research a little and see what ammo you can bring when you when you go. My truck does this too, its intermittent which is weird but always on longer trips. I have been meaning to take it in for a year now

 

#reliability

 

Yeah I’ll do my research and be loaded for when I go to the dealer.

 

@Tundra234 they look a little more rough than normal. I’m thinking they need a good heavy braking to clean them off. If not, to the dealer for turning.

 

That would cause pulsating

 

As mentioned earlier, I would do a break in period and see what happens. Just make sure you don't come to a complete stop while they are hot.

 

I have 5600 miles on mine , this is what they look like.

 

This is what I was dealing with until I replaced them.

 

Update, pulsing is going away. Took it on the same 90 mile round trip. Obviously it's mostly highway so not a lot of braking. But it appears as if the rust is getting cleared off and smoothing things out. Thanks everyone for input and suggestions!

 

Do you have a moderately steep hill with little traffic (duhhh) close to you ? Drive UP it. Put it in neutral and then free roll backwards and jam the brakes. Do this a few good times. Proceed on your way. Report back results.

 

I thought that was just to adjust rear drum brakes. And how would that be any different (or more effective) than multiple heavy forward braking without stopping?

 

Cleaning up irregularities that MAY have developed with forward braking. It by no means is a 100% guaranteed "fix." Just one of those thrifty ways to address a problem that has worked before (for me).

 

Can also drive around your neighborhood and see if that fixes the issue by driving around and keeping a consistent speed while applying light brake pressure, this will almost act as a way of grinding/sanding down the rotors and clearing any 'small' irregutlatires, anything with some substantial thickness/grit will need to be turned.

 

Just an update. After driving around more often now and a lot more small trips and local driving, the pulsing has seemed to go away and be back to normal. I was shocked the rust and everything just took that long to clear up but luckily it finally has. Thank you all for your input and suggestions.

 

Good to hear!