Requesting Advice: Removing Spring Plate Bushing Cover
 

I am performing a mod on my coupe unrelated to installing new spring plate or suspension components. However, I need to remove one of the lower bolts holding the spring plate cover. The car is currently on jack stands at the appropriate chassis points and suspension in full droop.

I am planning on using PB penetrant to soak the bolt for at least 24 hours then using a breaker bar. I also have a MAP gas torch.

Asking for advice based on your personal experience in the best approach to loosening the bolt without risking shearing the head off and making a bigger project out of the one I am currently working on.

What regiment have you found effective (PB then breaker bar, PB then heat then breaker bar, etc)? Heating the bolt seems counter intuitive since it will expand it creating more resistance.

Recommendations? Thoughts?

Thank you.

You mean the cap thingie which covers the rear spring plate bushing? As I recall, it has four bolts with approximately 13mm 0r 15 mm heads. Sheet metal cover? The bolts attach the spring plate busing cover to the chassis of the car? Yeah....those bolts are not going to be difficult to remove. Go ahead and soak them if you wish but there is no need for heat. Or breaker bar.

I wouldnt use any heat on those bolts... that may destroy the rubber bushings underneath the cap. Those bolts should come off easy....... famous lasts words, I know.

The bolts come off fairly easily, the cover is another story all together; it’s probably fused to the bushing and will fight you tooth and nail. Just be careful if you try to pry it off that you don’t deform anything else around there (that you might be using for leverage) as that will be a much bigger problem.

I used PB blaster but they came off fairly easily. Now removing the torsion bar fused to the spring plate, that's a different matter entirely...

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the torsion bar head is stuck in the spring plate? a classic situation.

how to: drill a bore in the cap of the spring plate where the splined head of the torsion bar sits.
flood with Caramba, WD40 or similar, let it soak.

next: place wood or similar behind spring plate and body
insert drift punch in bore of cap, hammer torsion bar out of spring plate

I tapped the hole in the spring plate cap.
Then threaded a bolt into the hole and torsion bar came right out.

If the problem bolt is the rear lower corner one, it is possible that the spring plate, depending on the ride height, is resting on that bolt at full drop, and hence inhibiting bolt rotation for removal. If that is the case, just raise the dropped wheel enough for the spring plate to clear the bolt. Then, lower the weel to allow it to return to full-drop position.