2005 Corolla Rear Brake Disc

[aidank]

In preparation for NCT went to remove wheel from my 2005 corolla 1.4vvti to have a look at break pads.  300k kms on the clock.  Has had new brake callipers on all 4 corners over the last 50k kms, brakes were sticking on, seals gone hard in calliper over the years.  

Wheel Nut 1, 2, 3:  Tight, Tight, Tight,  put my foot on the factory supplied breaker bar and loosened off just fine. 

Wheel Nut Four - Tried the same technique and it just sheared off.

All 4 nuts looked in good condition, must have been overtightened with an Impact Gun Last time that wheel was off for tyre change/puncture, and Wheel Nut 4 bound up.

So its time to replace the broken wheel stud, as I had what I thought was a replacement match:  Found out later the  thread was correct, head which fits into the hub is the wrong size.

Loosened off the caliper and handbreak gear screw through the access hole in the brake disc and tried to pull the break disc, stuck.  Screwed in the 2 x M8 bolts to loosen it off and off it comes just fine, no tightness encountered when !Removed! in the 2 X m8 bolts. 

Only I see there is a crack going from one of those M8 holes to one of the wheel mounting holes. ! 

So now its time to replace the break disc  Upon examination the break disc had plenty meat left on it, as have the handbrake pads.  Brake disc is at least 10years old.  Good bit of rust on the inside edge, where handbrake doesn't pull on it to be expected, its not exactly sealed from water and dirt.

Question :   Do I need to replace both break discs ?  Will I be able to get handbrake to balance itself up again properly etc.  with a new and old disc.  As this break disc is fine, I presume the second one is too, I will double check obviously.  

I also see the break splash guard is rotten after 20years, any easy ways of replacing it, is cut a section out same as this video here standard practice ?, cutting starts at 1min approximately.

 

 

And after all that the break pads were just fine.

[oldcodger]

Like most suspension, tyre and brake parts you should ideally replace both sides of the same axle.

For brakes it just not worth compromising, plus there is a chance your NCT test will fail as it may show too much of an unequal measurement on the both the disc and hand brake test.