HAND BRAKE SEIZED - HOW TO RELEASE?

[nrmoz]

I've a conundrum in a P6B that has been laid up in an open yard for 17 years and the rear brakes are seized solid (or so it seems) which the former owner thinks was because he pulled on the handbrake to hard...

Has anyone experience in releasing or freeing up the rear brakes following a long lay up! This may be a VERY severe case...

Sure be happy for any advice at all right now...

 

[ghce]

will require removal and rebuild of calipers, former owner is deluded or telling a porkie, p6 rear brakes need use or they seem to inevitably seize.

 

[classicalgreen]

sort of thing needing a strip down and checking each part . we can start by using WD40 on handbrake cable and linkage joints. no doubt discs will have adhered to pads by now too. you can remove pad(s) but swivels in callipers likely stiff so may need a bit of elbow force etc
remove drive shaft where it bolts to discs both sides and tie out of way . unclip handbrake cable itself to linkage . then removes pads. on pads out we can see if callipers swivel ? odds are seals etc will be no good on callipers anyway so we may be best biting bullet ( I did few weeks ago -ouch) and removing both. I found supporting car on axle stands ( do NOT jack up on De Dion tube! ) allowing rear suspension and diff assy to hang off floor then disconnect drive shafts to diff /rear discs, unclip handbrake cable . then we can see what else needs removing e.g. rear brake line under boot connection ( or when we try lowering diff --we have a problem Houston ) take weight of diff with a trolley jack ..unless we are lucky bugger and have a car hoist ? then use appropriate support. you cab unbolt propshaft to diff. mark it so it goes back in same position to avoid vibration issues etc
undo the diff to support etc ( 3 bolts) and anything else you think needs removing ( i am not checking under car here so may have missed something!) diff is heavy !! so get a friend to assist or remove with care . once diff is out we can very easily remove pads. discs. callipers and brake hoses/pipes.
my car was laid up for 13 years .. replaced all brake pipes .calipers.pads .rear discs .( front were actually OK after a quick rust removal session ) new tyres . new hoses. new master brake cylinder. new servo .new plugs. new oil. new filters etc .you get the drift.
good luck and don't rush things . you can get lots of help here so don't worry about asking 1