I think I am going mad… can't get v-brakes off frame… help!

I have to say I feel like a right idiot asking this on here, but I have tried everything and am now desperate!
I have a second hand frame which i bought with some rear Deore v-brakes on it. I removed the bolts and expected the arms to slip straight off of the posts… they slip almost all the way off but then stop and will not come off, like they are still being held on somehow. Both sides are exactly the same. They will not come off even with extreme force – I’ve tried to the point where I am going to damage the frame if I continue.
What on earth could be holding them onto the posts?? I am really confused…
It’s been many years since I used v-brakes but I’m sure they should just pull straight off!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

They should slide straight off. Is the end of the brake stud mushroomed in any way which might be stopping them coming off?

Doesn’t look like it, but it’s hard to be sure since the stud is down inside the brake arm.

The brake post is supposed to be a perfectly straight tube, right? But if it was then I don’t see how the brake could get stuck on it, so maybe you are right and the post is deformed in some way… But then it’s odd that both sides are behaving exactly the same.

can you not undo the posts from the frame they should have flats to get a spanner on, then you might be able to see whats stopping them

No flats on these ones unfortunately…

You need a bigger hammer.

I was worried someone would say that…

spray some lube in, wiggle them around and lever them off, as said above, they should just slip off. might be the return springs jamming things up, so try punching them out the spring location holes.

Spring releasing from spring hole properly?

Too slow

Yes the springs are all the way out of the holes. The arms nearly come off – it’s like something at the bottom of the arms is catching on something at the top of the posts.

The brake studs are mushroomed or corroded.

It doesn’t have to be much.