Brakes Pulsating Especially Downhill

Hey all, I've had my '09 Taco for a few months now. Currently living in SoCal and have been driving through the mountains a good bit. Twice now on fairly steep and long downhills, I've noticed my brakes pulsating. Mainly through the steering column but feels like it shakes the whole truck and is audible as well. I don't think I've experienced any brake performance issues but both times I've pulled over and let them breathe a bit. Also it's a manual so I've relied a little more on downshifting to slow down at those times.

Did a little research and seems like maybe a rotor issue? No issues under normal driving conditions, stock truck for the most part. Thinking I'll get rotors checked, anything else? Could probably do for a rotation anyways. Could it be a larger issue with brakes?

 

Replace rotors and pads.

 

I'd go with the rotors. Likely warped from high heat and cooling.

 

Warped rotors for sure. Cheap an easy to replace. Good idea to also do the pads at the same time.

 

In this thread,
Forum advises to replace poorly-designed stock warp prone rotors,
with another expensive $200 pair of the same poorly-designed rotors that will warp again
because they are undersized for what the truck is
as opposed to bigger 5th gen 4runner brakes, etc.

Jenius

 

Use your gears properly on long downhills and you will never warp a set of rotors.

 

how many total miles on truck

how many since last brake job b4 U bought truck

there are a few possibilities.....................the pads might be mismatched

folks dont know OEM parts are matched !!

many believe they can improve on stock......................

‘ box on shelf ‘ marketing sells products that are NOT always matched/better

 

it will warp anyway
the rotor size is smaller than the average sedan
rear drum brakes don't help with that

pretty sure 4runner calipers or better pads like TRD Ceramic with StopTech Cryo Slotted rotors are better

 

how is it that I had 100k on my original front rotors n pads driving ALL sorts of mtn roads with not a hint of a warped rotor? (hell just yesterday did an aggregate 5k feet of climbing / descending up n down mtn roads) I replaced both at 100k miles cus pads were donzo and whelp may as well replace rotors as they will go another 100k, but the rotors could of easily been reused.

Needless to say Use your gears and brakes properly and you will never warp your rotors. Brakes are meant to bring a vehicle to a stop, gears are meant to hold a vehicle at speed (going up or downhill).

Also the rear drums will almost always lockup the rear tires before the front disks so dont use that as an excuse.


About the only time when one sees the limitations of the front stock brake setup is on tires bigger than 33s.

 

As others have said, warped rotors

 

Need to put brakes on mine for the first time. Have about 53k on the truck. Not squealing yet but can’t decide which rotors to get. Mine have been warped for awhile. Tow a fair amount. Pulled about 4200 lbs up and down a steep, long grade several times. Think that is likely where the issue with my rotors started.