Help! Stuck Torsion Plate

[not_hans_stuck]

I'm trying to disassemble the rear suspension on my '86 3.2 Carrera. The spring plate is hopelessly frozen to the torsion bar. Is there a way to cut it off? I've tried my biggest pry bars and even put an actual crow bar on it, but that only flexes the body behind it. I don't have a torch and I'm not sure I'd want to do that anyway with that big rubber donut in there. I can't get a slide hammer on it. I'm out of ideas.

Help!

Thanks.

Hal

[redridge]

yeah thats a tough one.... I used a series of vise grips that as a whole grips the torsion bar. The more vice you add, the more it grips.... grab the spring plate (or brace it against the body) and use a BFH to bang on the vice grips. Its not pretty! But I used a total of 3 grips to finally not make the vices from slipping.

[not_hans_stuck]

I'm not even getting that far. Mine is stuck up against the body. So, I guess, the far end of the torsion bar (inner end) is also stuck. Do you think I could cut the whole end off? By that I mean a lateral cut from the outer end to the inner end. That would let it spread and then maybe release its friction. I'm replacing the suspension with a coilover setup so I don't need the parts.

[chris_seven]

have you taken out the Welch Washer in the end of the spring plate - This will let you spray in some penetrating oil which will help.

You can also then get in with a stong three leg puller and then they normally give up the fight and come out.

You can the plug the spring plate back up by tack welding in a disc of steel unless you can dinf a new plug of the correct size.

[brads911sc]

Do you have the other side out?

Perhaps you can tap it loose from the other side.

Originally Posted by not_hans_stuck

I'm not even getting that far. Mine is stuck up against the body. So, I guess, the far end of the torsion bar (inner end) is also stuck. Do you think I could cut the whole end off? By that I mean a lateral cut from the outer end to the inner end. That would let it spread and then maybe release its friction. I'm replacing the suspension with a coilover setup so I don't need the parts.

[brads911sc]

Have you hit the spring plate with a BFH?

[rwest]

Hal,

Since you said you are going with a coil over set-up and don't need to re-use the parts,
I would get a angle grinder with a solid rim diamond blade and just cut off the end of the spring plate all the way through the torsion bar,which will release the spring plate and also allow you to punch out the other side with the remaining piece of bar.

Best,
Rutager

[redridge]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

Have you hit the spring plate with a BFH?

+1

I would hit it perpendicular to the torsion bars.... gotta shake things up in there.

[al lkosmal]

If I remember correctly...I used a gear puller on mine. First, I drilled a hole in the spring plate end cap and sprayed some penetrating oil in there. Then I threaded a coarse threaded bolt into the cap to attempt to pull the spring plate assembly off of the t'bar. This can apply enough force to push the t'bar out...or if it's really stuck in there......it may just pull the end cap off.

This is ok, it's just time for the gear puller. It's a tight space, and kid of awkward, but i placed the puller legs behind the spring plate, adjacent to the inboard bushing, with the puller screw centered on the end of the t'bar and the hex end of the gear puller screw protruding out through the t'bar access hole in the body. (I hope that's clear)

It's been a while since I did this, but it has worked for me.

regards,
Al

[Jagshund]

That happened to me. Ended up cutting the entire tube out, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Can you hit it from the other side, assuming the other is out?

[not_hans_stuck]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ran out of time today. I'll have to start again tomorrow.

What's a Welch Washer?

I had thought to weld a bolt to end of the cap and thread a slide hammer to it, but drilling a hole and using a 3-jaw puller sounds easier.

I can't push it out from the other side. Both sides are stuck. Of course.

BFH didn't work at all. Wood mallet, rubber mallet, 5 lb dead blow, 2.5 pound sledge and 10 lb hammer of thor didn't even make it budge. In fact, I thought Thor's Hammer was gonna knock the car off the jackstands.

[JT912]

A similar post came up recently on the 912bbs. Some pictures of the drill hole/gear puller method included.
Stuck spring plate

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by not_hans_stuck

Thanks for the advice guys. I ran out of time today. I'll have to start again tomorrow.

What's a Welch Washer?

I had thought to weld a bolt to end of the cap and thread a slide hammer to it, but drilling a hole and using a 3-jaw puller sounds easier.

I can't push it out from the other side. Both sides are stuck. Of course.

BFH didn't work at all. Wood mallet, rubber mallet, 5 lb dead blow, 2.5 pound sledge and 10 lb hammer of thor didn't even make it budge. In fact, I thought Thor's Hammer was gonna knock the car off the jackstands.

Hal,

The cap cover for the torsion bar is not welded just forced fitted and it will come off if you pull it out. An easy solution to your problem is using a three-arm gear puller similar to this:



Penetrating oil and heat cycle help loosen the rusted torsion bar during removal. If you are concern about the heat, skip it. Or heat the end of the TB cover lightly and use BFH to shock it. It felt the torsion bar was welded to the cover when I did mine the first time. After your first torsion bar removal, the next removal would be a peace of cake.

Tony

[not_hans_stuck]

Thamnks everyone. Ill try it when i get back. Im on vacation in yurrp for two weeks. Goung to Silverstone for the Grand Prix Sunday.

H

[will hung]

Originally Posted by not_hans_stuck

Thamnks everyone. Ill try it when i get back. Im on vacation in yurrp for two weeks. Goung to Silverstone for the Grand Prix Sunday.

H

Wow. Congratulations. Silverstone should be a good time.

My one side was stuck and the only way to get it out was the gearpuller method everybody suggested.