First time changing rear brakes - Help needed with handbrake

[C7 Owl]

Im starting to attempt doing some spannering on the seven.  I have some binding on my rear brakes.  I have decided to renew the brakes all over with new calipers on the rear.  I have removed the rear right caliper but have hit the snag of the handbrake cable not detaching from the caliper.  I have loosened the plastic screw near the diff on the offside handbrake cable as far as it would go.  No matter how much levering with screw drivers and pliers I still cant get the nearside hand brake cable off the caliper.  I have searched youtube and this site for further ideas how to remove but am stuck.  

I cant see any way off accessing the hand brake lever to completely remove the cable.  How is this done, without removing rivets or other fastened down surfaces?  Any tips would be most useful or if anyone is nearby Carshalton, South London and could offer some advice that would be appreciated.  T

Thanks 

Phiroze

[Jonathan Kay]

Have you already got an Assembly Guide so that you can work backwards? Please let me know if you would like one.

Jonathan

PS: When you're putting it back together (!) there's a crucial order in which to adjust the pads and the handbrake.

[C7 Owl]

Hi Jonathan 

Yes I have been using the assembly guide.  It doesnt have enough detail for my knowledge.  Need it a bit more step by step.  I cant see how to access the lever to completely remove the the handbrake cable as this seems to be the only other thing I can do to get the bloody thing off the caliper.  

[SM25T]

If you have removed the cable from the other caliper and slackened the cable adjuster fully, you can pull it through the outer sleeve if you need more slack. 

[C7 Owl]

Thanks I will give that a go.  I have only tried the one side at the moment.  Hopefully other one will come off easier. 

[SM25T]

When you reassemble, make sure + on piston is 12-3-6-9 o'clock so lugs on pad engage. Don't touch handbrake or adjustable until pads in and calipers refitted. Press hard on brake pedal a few times to actuate internal self adjusters. Only then adjust handbrake cable.

[C7 Owl]

Thought I would update on how I got on, and say thanks for advice to everyone.  The issue I had was I started on the offside rear and just tried to do that.  When I next tackled it I tried both sides and found, with the handbrake adjuster completely loosened off, the nearside rear caliper was much easier to remove the handbrake cable.  This in turn meant the offside caliper went a little slacker and I could then remove that side.  From there the procedure was fairly easy to follow from the assembly guide and posts.  The Caterham is now back on the road!  

I did have an issue getting my torque wrench into the wheel arch to torque two of the bolts to the correct tightness.  Can anyone recommend a decent torque wrench that is quite short and fits into awkward spots.  

[grumpy the 7th]

2 grunts with a spanner