Owners of other Toyota and Lexus vehicles such as the Camry, C-HR, Venza, Avalon, 86, Sienna, Tacoma, RAV4, Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia, IS 350, RX 350, UX 200, GS 350, IS 300 and ES 350 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

Attention: Please verify the correct replacement parts for your vehicle by using the Amazon Part Finder website. The correct part numbers may vary depending on your vehicle's model year, trim level, if it is equipped with the EPB (electric parking brake) system and whether it was built in North America or Japan.

A few compatible sets of new rear brake pads with their part numbers are as follows: Akebono ACT1354, Toyota 04466-02390, ProMax 57-1354, Advics AD1354 (manual) and Bosch BC2183 (EPB).

When possible, I've labeled the brake pad part numbers above that are compatible with vehicles that have the EPB (electric parking brake) or the manual parking brake.

The tools and other items needed to complete this procedure include a plastic pry bar tool, a floor jack, two jack stands, a lug nut wrench, a 14mm socket, a 3/8" drive ratchet, a 17mm wrench, a tube of brake caliper grease and an "F" clamp.

Please proceed with caution and at your own risk!

The first few steps are to drive the car on to a level surface, shift the gear selector into "Park" and turn off the ignition.

Securely place wheel chocks on both sides of the front tires to help prevent the vehicle from moving.

Warning: If your Corolla is equipped with the EPB ("electric" or "electronic" parking brake) system, it MUST be placed into "service mode" or "maintenance mode" by following the instructions below from the service manual or my simplified directions.

Simplified Instructions

1. Turn on the ignition but do not start the engine.
2. Push and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down the EPB button to release the parking brake.
4. Turn off the ignition.
5. Turn on the ignition (do not start the engine).
6. Hold the brake pedal and within 8 seconds, lift up the EPB button (engage position) three times in a row.
7. Push down the EPB button (release position) three times in a row.
8. Push down and HOLD the EPB button again in the release position until you hear the electric parking brake actuators attached to the rear calipers retract all the way back. It will take at least a few seconds for the motors to fully wind back.
9. You will see the EPB button light flashing and a red "PARK" warning light flashing on the gauge cluster.

When you are completely done replacing the pads follow these steps to exit "service" or "maintenance" mode, turn the ignition on, press and hold the brake pedal. Pull and hold up the EPB button until you hear the parking brake actuators move back out and stop. Engage the parking brake as normal by pulling up on the button.

If any of these steps fail, turn off the ignition, wait a few minutes and try again.

Shop Manual Instructions

1. Turn the engine switch off.
2. Turn the engine switch on. Hit the "Start" button twice. Do not start the engine.
Within 8 seconds, operate the electric parking brake switch (electric parking brake switch assembly) to perform 3 lock side ON operations (from off (release) to on (pull)) and then 3 release side ON operations (from off (release) to on (push)).
Notice:
If the operation is performed too quickly, the system might not respond. If the system doesn't respond, perform the operation again at a slower speed.
The parking brake must be released.
HINT:
The parking brake indicator light (red) flashes (0.25 second intervals).

Push and hold the electric parking brake switch (electric parking brake switch assembly) to the release side for 5 seconds or more.
NOTICE:
Make sure to perform this procedure with the engine switch on (IG).
Make sure that the brake pedal is not depressed when performing this procedure.
When the system changes to pad replacement mode, DTC C13A7 may be stored. If the DTC is stored, clear the DTCs after the procedure (rear brake pad replacement, etc.) is complete.
HINT:
After a short time passes, the parking brake actuator assembly operates, and once the assembly finishes operating, the parking brake indicator light (red) flashes slowly (1 second intervals) (nut moves back inside the cylinder and system enters pad replacement mode).

(b) Turn the engine switch off.

NOTICE:
Do not operate the electric parking brake switch (electric parking brake switch assembly) until the procedure is complete. If operated, the system will return to its normal condition.

(1) After the procedure (rear brake pad replacement, etc.) is complete, turn the engine switch on (IG) and pull the electric parking brake switch (integration control and panel assembly) to the lock side for 5 seconds or more.

NOTICE:
When performing work (replacing the rear brake pad, etc.), do not operate the electric parking brake switch (electric parking brake switch assembly) or turn the engine switch on (IG) and operate the shift lever. If the electric parking brake switch (electric parking brake switch assembly) or shift lever is operated, the parking brake may operate and the rear disc brake piston may fall off. Also, make sure to disconnect the connector of the parking brake actuator assembly or disconnect the cable from the negative (-) battery terminal.
When DTC C13A7 is stored, clear the DTCs.

If you'd like to have the official (and very expensive) OEM tool, the EPB release tool is part number Toyota 09756-48020-1B.

To view a JPEG screen capture of the service manual click on the following link: Toyota EPB Service Mode Instructions.

Once you are 100% certain that the EPB has been placed into service mode, continue with the following instructions.

Gently remove the wheel cover or "hub cap" by using the plastic pry bar tool. Set the wheel cover aside in a safe place.

I prefer to only work on one side of the car at a time to keep three tires on the ground for extra safety.

Spin off the five lug nuts and set them aside in a safe place.

Warning: If your Corolla is equipped with the "EPB" (electric or electronic parking brake) system, it must be placed into "service mode" or "maintenance mode" before you can continue!

The rear brake caliper is held in place to the bracket by two bolts situated on the back side of the caliper with the bolt heads facing in towards the trunk / cargo area.

Loosen the lower caliper bolt by turning it in the clockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the vehicle) with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.

Loose the upper caliper bolt by turning it in the clockwise direction (as seen from the outside of the car) with the 14mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet.

Note - If you slide under the vehicle and look at the back side of the rotor and caliper, you would loosen the caliper bolts in the "normal" counterclockwise (lefty loosey) direction. Since we are outside of the vehicle looking at the outer face of the rotor, the orientation of the bolts is reversed and the ratchet will be turned in the "opposite" clockwise direction to loosen the bolts. I do not recommend going under the vehicle for this procedure since it adds extra risk.

Carefully pull the caliper off the old pads and out of the bracket.

Avoid bending, pulling, kinking or stressing the rubber brake fluid hose.

If you have trouble removing the caliper from the bracket, you may have not placed the EPB into service mode to retract the actuator motors.

Make a mental note of where the wear indicator bars or "squeal bars" are situated on the old brake pads.

On this 2020 Corolla LE, the wear indicator bars were situated at the bottom of both the inner and outer brake pads.

Clean off the bracket, rotor, lug studs and caliper with brake parts cleaner spray.

Avoid breathing in the brake dust or cleaning spray since they might be carcinogenic (cancer causing).

Apply a thin layer of brake parts lubricant grease to the top and bottom of the new pad abutment clips.

Push the new pad abutment clips into the top and bottom of the bracket. Make sure the clips are fully seated in the bracket.

In order for the caliper to operate smoothly, the two slider pins (or "guide pins") need to be well lubricated.

Do NOT mix up the top and bottom caliper slider pins since they are slightly different.

Apply a thin layer of brake parts lubricant grease to the smooth part of the pin.

Push the pin back into its rubber dust boot attached to the bracket.

Repeat the process for the second pin.

If you continue with the next steps and you have not placed the EPB system into service mode, you will damage the electric parking brake actuator motors.

Attach the "F" clamp to the caliper and use the back of an old brake pad to evenly distribute the pressure across the piston.

Move to the right rear area of the engine bay and remove the access cover for the brake fluid reservoir.

Twist off the brake fluid reservoir cap in the counterclockwise direction.

Removing the cap will allow the brake fluid to more easily travel back through the system when you compress the piston.

Slowly turn the "F" clamp handle in the clockwise direction to compress back the piston.

If you encounter any resistance, stop.

Make sure the piston moves straight back into the caliper and not at an angle.

Continue compressing the piston until it is just about flush with the rubber dust boot that surrounds it.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air), so the reservoir cap shouldn't be off for any longer than necessary.

Rotor Replacement Instructions

If your vehicle has been exhibiting shuddering, vibrations or shaking in the rear end while braking, you may need to replace the OEM rear brake rotors.

Two compatible replacement rear brake rotors with their part numbers are as follows: DuraGo BR900756-02 and Centric 121.44165.

Please verify the correct replacement part numbers for your vehicle! They may vary depending on the model year, trim level, if it has the EPB or not and whether it was built in Japan or North America.

Remove the two 17mm bolts on the back side of the bracket, remove the bracket and slide the old rotor off the lug studs. If the old rotor is stuck or "frozen" in place, try hitting it with a rubber mallet to loosen the rust or debris.

Clean off the lug studs and wheel hub with brake parts cleaner spray.

Slide the new rotor into place, re-attach the bracket and tighten the two 17mm bracket bolts.

I don't have the service manual for the 2020+ Corolla but the shop manual for the 2009 to 2013 Corolla has a rear bracket bolt torque specification of 46 lb-ft (or 63 N-m).

Please verify the correct torque value for your vehicle!

Orientate the new brake pads with the wear indicator bars situated at the bottom of both pads.

Carefully lower the caliper over the new pads and into the bracket.

Line up the bolt holes in the caliper with their corresponding holes in the slider pins attached to the bracket.

The OEM caliper bolts seemed to have some red thread locking adhesive (or "threadlocker" fluid) on the threads.

I chose to place a drop of Loctite Blue (medium strength - removable with hand tools) thread locker on the bolts to help prevent them from vibrating loose.

Note - If you were to slide under the car, you would spin in the bolts in the "normal" clockwise direction to tighten them.

According to the service manual for the 2009 to 2013 Corolla, the 14mm rear caliper bolts should be tightened to the torque specification of 26 lb-ft (or 35 N-m).

If the caliper slider pins turn as you are attempting to tighten the caliper bolts, hold the pins in place with a 17mm wrench.

Note - If you were to slide under the car and look at the back side of the caliper, you would tighten the bolts in the "normal" clockwise direction. Since we are sitting outside of the car, the orientation of the bolts are reversed.

Double check that the bracket bolts and caliper bolts are tight before moving on to the next steps.

If your brake pedal has been feeling soft, mushy or spongy, the brake fluid may be contaminated with water or air bubbles.

It would be best to bleed the brake lines at this time in order to flush out the old fluid and replace it with fresh DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid. For more on this topic, check out my Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With An Assistant DIY Guide or alternatively the Brake Line Fluid Bleeding With A Power Bleeder Guide.

The brake fluid bleeder valve is covered by a rubber cap and located just below the top caliper bolt.

The 2009-2013 Corolla service manual specification for tightening the 8mm bleeder screws is 73 in-lb (or 8.3 N*m).

Spin on the five lug nuts a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Slightly tighten the lug nuts in a criss-cross or star pattern with the tire iron.

Continue tightening the lug nuts in a criss-cross or star pattern until they are snug.

It would be best to use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the owner's manual specification of 76 lb-ft (or 103 N-m).

Line up the wheel cover or "hub cap" with the steel wheel.

Make sure the cut out section for the tire valve is in the correct position.

Firmly tap the wheel cover back into place. Double check that the hub cap is securely attached all around.

Sit in the driver's seat of the car and firmly push on the brake pedal a few times to help restore the brake line pressure. Check the brake fluid in the reservoir and verify that it is at the proper level. If it is low, add some DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid

Please check your owner's manual for the correct brake fluid type. The reservoir cap in this 2020 Corolla specified that either DOT3 or DOT 4 could be used.

When you are completely done replacing the pads follow these steps to exit "service" or "maintenance" mode, turn the ignition on, press and hold the brake pedal. Pull and hold up the EPB button until you hear the parking brake actuators move all the way back out and stop. Engage the parking brake as usual by pulling up on the button while holding down the brake pedal.

Here's what the service manual says about exiting rear brake pads service mode - "After the procedure (rear brake pad replacement, etc.) is complete, turn the engine switch on (IG) and pull the electric parking brake switch (integration control and panel assembly) to the lock side for 5 seconds or more."

To break in your new rear brake pads, just drive normally for the first several hundred miles while trying to avoid any hard or "panic" stops which may glaze over the new pads and cause them to be noisy and / or not perform as well.

It's also a good idea to regularly check your driveway, parking spot or garage for drops of brake fluid which may indicate a leak from the bleeder valves or the reservoir. You should also check the brake fluid level in the reservoir, and also verify that the lug nuts are still tight.

Be sure to write down the procedure in your vehicle's service records.

Please check out all of my 2020 Toyota Corolla DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.