brake pipe and handbrake fun

[Alex M]

Having redone my valvers engine and refitted it was pleased she was running so sweet, and thought I had tackled all the difficult and annoying jobs a valver could throw at you. Unfortunetly not, needed a new rear brake pipe for MOT test and decided to change the lot, as its hard to detach them from load sensor valve individually, so stripped the lot. What a nightmare, everything was siezed solid. Anyway after much swearing and through a couple of abused vise grips, got all pipes off and load sensor valve and can make new pipes up. However thought Id strip and clean rear calipers, which is were I ran into problems. I cannot manage to punch handbrake cable out of guide on caliper. Supposed to be a push fit, but neither side will not shift, any suggestions, anybody done this? (have tried a variety of punches but no luck and dont want to damage it. I could apply heat but am unsure since it is alloy - help someone?) Also slide on one of the calipers looks dogged, where is best for new caliper and how much?