Rear brakes Help!!

[Philpy]

I'm getting my 87 16v ready for MOT,
One job was both rear brakes were binding.
I took them apart and sanded the rust off and applied some copper grease. I also wound the caliper back a little to make it easier to put it back together.
Got it all back together and the wheels spin freely 
Got the missus to push the brake pedel and they lock 
Tried the handbrake and neither wheels lock  There is next to no resistance at all? What have I done as the handrake worked fine before! The cable is still on both calipers and pulls the lever fine!

[AudiA8Quattro]

The rachet mechanism inside both calipers are probably buggared.
I don't think they can be repaired, so its probably time to change them.

[Philpy]

So did I break them some how?
They worked fine before, all I've done is wind the calipers back!

[AudiA8Quattro]

Did you disconnect the handbrake cables first?

[Dizzie]

mk2 calipers are known to seize. it's as much effort to rebuild them as it is just to swap to new ones. or even mk3 ones which are less prone to seizing due to internal handbrake mech.

[Philpy]

Did you disconnect the handbrake cables first?

No  :embarassed:
Didnt realise I had 2!

[AudiA8Quattro]

The rachet will be knackered then.
I learnt the hard way too, a few years ago  :embarassed:

[Dizzie]

I never disconnect the handbrake when winding calipers back in and all the ones I've done have had perfect working handbrakes afterwards...?

[AudiA8Quattro]

Thats strange, when i done this years ago, the handbrake stopped working as well. I assumed this was because there was a small amount of tension on the cable still when i wound the caliper in. All the workshop manuals say to remove the cable, so i assumed this is why.
Either way, its time for new calipers i'm afraid 

[mix]

Is it just me or when coming to fixing calipers is seems like a wise thing to buy new one....