Heard a grinding noise, came and went for about a week but I didn’t have time to check (I drive A LOT so that definitely didn’t help), finally got around to checking the wheel. Brake pad is worn down completely, just metal on metal. Rotor is rough, but overall looks decent, so I absolutely need to replace it? Tight on money at the moment and I’ve never done the rotors myself either.
Other questions, if I’m doing brake pads on one side, do I have to replace the brake pads on the other side too? Straight away I mean, she is due for a service as of 500km and I’ll be taking her in soon.
These aren’t the questions you should be asking if you’re going to service your own brakes. I’m concerned that your lack of knowledge means you won’t know if you are doing sub par work or if you are glossing over other issues.
It’s like if you were asking about doing some home wiring and trying to save money by asking if wire nuts were absolutely necessary, or if you could just twist the wires together by hand.
Specifically about your question,
1- that rotor is in terrible condition. It absolutely needs to be replaced.
2-