before you go spend a dollar, check and see if the emergency brake is released all the way.
Due to the fact they were left on or even put on for that matter would lead me to rusted/frozen cables causing an issue.
If you dont use the e-brakes every day, dont use them at all.
Just because the inside is free doesnt mean the cable is not pulling on the strut rod.
This would give the same senerio as the wheel cylinder being frozen. Not that it isnt, by all means check and make sure the cylinder pushes in on both sides.
Just the e-brake thing makes me think this is the issue.
You may need to go as far as loosining the adjustment nut whee the two cables meet one.
Try and pull/pry out on the cable at the backing plate. if one side frees up and the other one wont go on, then loosen the adjusting nut, pull/pry out the other cable and you should be good to go.
Alot of people never think the emergency brake being partially on would cause this issue.