T-Bar Stuck in Spring Plate - Help!!

[t6dpilot]

I am working on replacing the spring plate bushings in my 71T. When I removed the spring plate the torsion bar came out with it. A good thing I suppose in that the bar is not solidified in the chassis. Another good thing is that the t-bar tube is as clean as a whistle.

Now the bad news... For the life of me, I cannot separate the t-bar from the spring plate. I drilled a hole in the cap to pry off the cap and the damn thing will not budge. That is a cap just like the front t-bar and comes out like a coin, no? Anyway, so I now have a hole in which I can stick a punch through to bang out the t-bar, right? NO! I have banged and banged and banged with a 2lb hammer to no avail. I mean, it is just hardened grease right? The car is not rusty, so I cannot believe that it is rust holding the bar in, but you never know.

My next step is to soak in Liquid Wrench and then bang some more. I am also surprised that I cannot get that damn cap off so I can get a bigger bar in there to bang on. Sure could use a helping hand from those that have been there before. Thanks.

[BoxsterGT]

Next step is a 20T press.

If that doesn't work heat it w the press.

Or find a good used T bar & spring plate.

Len



edit- Sorry Scott, I thought that you actually removed it from the chassis. Now I realize what you meant. The gear puller looks like the best way. Good luck.

[t6dpilot]

Len, bar and plate are still in the car. Can't get them out unless they are separated.

[Joe Bob]

PB Blaster...soak it for a couple of days....whack it with a BFH. Then heat, repeat....

[djdsc]

After many many cycles of heat and PB Blaster, we removed the end cap and used a 3-jaw puller. Even this needed several iterations of heat, PB and tension, heat, PB and tension. It sounded like a firecracker when it finally popped free. The screw for the puller was sticking out through the TB access hole.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by t6dpilot

I am working on replacing the spring plate bushings in my 71T. When I removed the spring plate the torsion bar came out with it. A good thing I suppose in that the bar is not solidified in the chassis. Another good thing is that the t-bar tube is as clean as a whistle.

Now the bad news... For the life of me, I cannot separate the t-bar from the spring plate. I drilled a hole in the cap to pry off the cap and the damn thing will not budge. That is a cap just like the front t-bar and comes out like a coin, no? Anyway, so I now have a hole in which I can stick a punch through to bang out the t-bar, right? NO! I have banged and banged and banged with a 2lb hammer to no avail. I mean, it is just hardened grease right? The car is not rusty, so I cannot believe that it is rust holding the bar in, but you never know.

My next step is to soak in Liquid Wrench and then bang some more. I am also surprised that I cannot get that damn cap off so I can get a bigger bar in there to bang on. Sure could use a helping hand from those that have been there before. Thanks.

Scott,

Pry the TB cover and it will come off. Once the outer end of the TB is exposed, push it out with a gear puller. Find a two-arm heavy duty gear puller to do the work. BFH is not as effective in delivering the needed pressure to dislodge the stubborn TB's. Heat and penetrating oil also help in sliding the TB's out. Keep us posted.

Tony

[ddubois]

I just went through this on my 71T. I'm sure some will cringe at this, but after hours of trying everything this is what worked for me.
A large pair of vise-grips tightly clamped on the TB have enough space between the handles to bolt the vise grips to the car using one of the spring plate cover holes. This effectively attaches the TB to the car. Then after continued soaking with PB Blaster and heat start beating on the spring plate with your BFH. Needless to say, grease the piss out of it when you reassemble so you'll never have to deal with this again!

[t6dpilot]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Looks like the gear puller is the choice of champions. I'll hopefully give it a go this weekend. Wish me luck. Oh yeah, I broke one screwdriver, bent two others, and bent my punch trying to pry that MF'er end cap off. Any suggestions here?