Proper maintenance of your car's brakes is essential to ensure a safe ride for you and your passengers. Many garages and national auto chains specialize in brake repair and replacement. While you can opt to have a repair shop change your brakes, you can also change the brakes yourself. As long as you have access to some basic tools, there is no reason you can't change your Corolla's brakes in about an hour.
Park your Corolla on a level spot and set the parking brake.
Wedge wheel chocks under both the front and back of one of the rear tires.
Loosen the lug nuts on each of the front tires using a lug nut wrench.
Lift the car using the jack and lower it onto jack stands. Place the stands on the lift points directly behind the front wheels, marked by metal tabs.
Remove the lug nuts from the front wheels. Pull the front tires off the Corolla and set aside.
Find the two bolts that hold the caliper in place. The caliper is mounted over the disc, or rotor, directly behind the tire. You should see the caliper immediately after you remove the tires. Unscrew the bolts and remove them.
Pull the caliper towards you until it pops free. The brake pads are directly under the caliper.
Wedge a flat-head screwdriver underneath the brake pad and pop it loose. Remove the brake pad. Wipe off the area with a clean rag. Clean off the rotor with the rag as well.
Compress the piston in the cylinder with the C-clamp. The cylinder is right in front of the area where the brake pads are located. Hold the piston down and install the new brake pad. Release the C-clamp once you replace the pad.
Reinstall the caliper. Insert the two caliper bolts and tighten them down. Remount the tire onto the wheel. Screw the lug nuts back on by hand. Do not tighten them all the way until the tires are back on the ground.
Repeat Steps 6 through 10 for the other front wheel.
Raise the Corolla above the jack stands. Remove the stands and lower the car to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts all the way once the tires are on the ground. Remove the chocks from behind the rear tire.
