Pulsating issue

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Kevlar21

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Need help on figuring out what's going on with the runner. Truck just hit 8000 miles and for the past few weeks I have noticed a pulsating feel coming from it. When coasting down a hill at like 40 mph I can just hear and slightly feel pulsating. When applying the brakes it obviously results in the same manner which I could understand it being a brake issue. But when just driving normal and taking the foot off the gas it's there too! It's been intermittent so that irritates me as well.

I'm figuring brake related, tires off balanced? I'm going to be making an appointment at Toyota, just looking for opinions or similar issues anyone has had. Thanks!
 
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Absolutely not what I thought you were talking about...


I am not sure it is physically possible for a truck to "pulsate" in the way you describe

pul·sate
ˈpəlˌsāt/
verb
gerund or present participle: pulsating

expand and contract with strong regular movements.
"blood vessels throb and pulsate"
produce a regular throbbing sensation or sound.
"a pulsating headache"
synonyms: palpitate, pulse, throb, pump, undulate, surge, heave, rise and fall; More
beat, thump, drum, thrum;
flutter, quiver
"the alien pods continued to pulsate, as if at any moment writhing creatures would emerge"
be very exciting.
"victory in a pulsating semifinal"
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Just saying :noidea:
 
Kevlar21 said:
Need help on figuring out what's going on with the runner. Truck just hit 8000 miles and for the past few weeks I have noticed a pulsating feel coming from it. When coasting down a hill at like 40 mph I can just hear and slightly feel pulsating. When applying the brakes it obviously results in the same manner which I could understand it being a brake issue. But when just driving normal and taking the foot off the gas it's there too! It's been intermittent so that irritates me as well.

I'm figuring brake related, tires off balanced? I'm going to be making an appointment at Toyota, just looking for opinions or similar issues anyone has had. Thanks!
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I think you're on it with the brakes. Sounds like a sticking caliper to me. Go around and carefully touch your rotors with your finger. I'm betting one or more of them will have you quickly pulling your finger back.
 
Had similar symptoms on my Xterra, happened most when coasting. Mine turned out being u joints. Maybe driveshaft out of balance?
 
snowrunner77 said:
Had similar symptoms on my Xterra, happened most when coasting. Mine turned out being u joints. Maybe driveshaft out of balance?
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Could possibly be...I thought about it being drivetrain related to. Hopefully the dealership will be able to figure it out. 8000 miles....:mad:
 
I would suspect tires first.

Another thing to check is the needle bearings in the front diff. Try shifting into 4H and see if it goes away...

If that cures it.. Take it to the dealer.. There should be a TSB for the needle bearings/front diff.
 
wfo9 said:
Another thing to check is the needle bearings in the front diff. Try shifting into 4H and see if it goes away...

If that cures it.. Take it to the dealer.. There should be a TSB for the needle bearings/front diff.
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Geesuz is this an ongoing issue?
 
Pulsating-Dot-Optical-Illusion-580x580.gif
 

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jrandom said:
Geesuz is this an ongoing issue?
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Yes, been going on for years with the 8" clamshell.... You can replace the needle bearings with a bushing to fix it. I don't know why Toyota won't do a permanent fix. The carrier casting is not machined and allows for too much play which wears out the needle bearings very quickly. It's the luck of the draw.. if you get a good or bad casting since there is no machining.... like you would expect. East Coast Gear supply sells a bushing you can put in, but I would not do that if it was still under warranty. Make Toyota fix it.....
 
wfo9 said:
Yes, been going on for years with the 8" clamshell.... You can replace the needle bearings with a bushing to fix it. I don't know why Toyota won't do a permanent fix. The carrier casting is not machined and allows for too much play which wears out the needle bearings very quickly. It's the luck of the draw.. if you get a good or bad casting since there is no machining.... like you would expect. East Coast Gear supply sells a bushing you can put in, but I would not do that if it was still under warranty. Make Toyota fix it.....
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Seems hard to believe that it is cheaper for warranty fixes than retooling. Good info though. Thanks.
 
I've had a lot of shaking, shuttering, or whatever due to BFG AT KO2 tires not being balanced properly. That's what I thought of while reading your post. Not sure if you have stock tires or not, but I'm sure even stock tires can become unbalanced if you loose a weight or something.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys! Gives me the chance to offer solutions to the dealership when I go instead of them saying "it's normal". By the way the truck is 100% stock. For now...
 
Two things:
Make sure you can repeat the problem.
Make sure you go along on the test drive, otherwise the tech will not find the problem.
 
I literally had this same exact problem, exactly as you describe at the same speeds, start happening within the last few weeks. Will let you know if I find anything out. Appointment is on March 31.
 
[MENTION=143027]Kevlar21[/MENTION]

Did some thinking last night after posting and wanted to ask you if yours matched mine.

1. Mine sounds like it's coming from the rear right wheel, but I'm not 100% on that.

2. Mine will hum/vibrate for about 3 seconds, and then go away for 3 seconds, and then come back for 3, go away for 3, etc. This part is what really confuses me because if it were a wheel, I'd expect it to be more of a constant chatter or more rapid than a low, pulsating hum.

3. Happens with or without brakes, accelerating/decelerating, turning or going straight, etc.

4. 35-45 mph is where it's most noticeable, but I have a feeling it's there at other speeds too as the pitch for mine changes from really low to a bit higher as I increase in speed. This makes me think I just can't hear it below 35 or above 45 even though it's still happening.

Does that sound like yours? Match up to symptoms 1-4?
 
I'm having the same noises... I have an appointment scheduled for the March 25th. I'll reply back with what i find out.
 
Please do. I have to wonder if it's the needle bearing since I've been using 4WD a lot recently, and that's why it only cropped up now. Not everything matches up with that on my end, but who knows.
 
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