handbrake is a doddle to change mate unless you have siezed bolts.

to check the enigne mount get a mate to sit in the car and rev it while you watch the engine if its moving all over the place its fooked............it will move a little


on the knocking could be ball joints or wishbones to check jack it up and rock the whell side to side if it knocks its the cv joint and rock it up and down if it knocks its the ball joints good luck mate