time for another update, finally we have some sun
and also got round to fixing my handbrake, was on the verge of buying a new caliper but thought I'd crack on and have a look at it and take some pics on the way
this lever on the drivers side would only move if hammered round, no amount of penetrating fluid seemed to help
removed the pin for the handbrake cable and unhooked the spring, tried turning the nut to operate the handbrake with a 17mm spanner but was really tight to move, so off it came
this operating arm was also very tight on the shaft and took several blows to remove it with a hammer and punch
revealing a rubber seal, tried to prise out a little but it seemed to be solid underneath so removed with a screwdriver
the housing was solid with rusty sludge, scraped it all clear then used penetrating fluid again, now it could get somewhere near to penetrating
worked the mechanism back and forth for about 5 minutes using an 11mm spanner until I reached a point where the handbrake was operating with very little effort, the put it all back together. also packed the seal with grease (which was an absolute nightmare to get back in)
removed the central cubby box insert and slacked off the cable adjusting nut fully to enable me to reconnect the cable to the caliper, then tightened the adjusting nut until the wheels were locking fully at 3 clicks of the handbrake lever, with no binding with the handbrake off and thankfully my handbrake light is now working as it should
hope the pictures may help somebody