Hi, I’ve got an 86 axle with rear callipers. I failed my mot as I’ve a brake imbalance and the hand brake doesn’t hold the car. I’ve got my wheels off and released the cables. The passenger calliper works as it should when I move the lever back and forth the brake will hold. The drivers side does nothing but move back and forward. Do I bleed this and hope for the best or is it a dud and I buy a new pair? The cable on this side was also seized too but that’s irrelevant to the lever doing nothing.
thanks in advance

 

Bleeding won't help the situation with the parking brake mechanism. The parking brake is purely mechanical.

The lever works a screw that threads the piston outwards and forces the inboard pad against the rotor. This action slides the entire caliper inboard so that the outboard pad contacts the rotor.

In most instances, the screw mechanism becomes frozen due to corrosion. If this is the case, it's better to replace the caliper.