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removing spring plate from torsion bar
oldnslo - August 3rd, 2006 at 07:14 PM

What is the procedure for removing spring plate from torsion bar? I got the 1956 beetle complete floorpan stripped and want to remove spring plates. My service manual doesnt cover this and they seem to be under spring tension, and I dont want to loose an eye doing it.
Is it just a matter of jacking up the spring plates to get them off the stop limit and tap them off with a hammer past stop limit and then release pressure? Any hints would be appreciated.

lexm - August 3rd, 2006 at 10:10 PM

It's been done before

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=36586&page=1#pid350174 


jack them up like this, use a screwdriver to guide it over the stop and let it down untiltension released then knock it off

[ Edited on 3-8-06 by lexm ]

VWCOOL - August 3rd, 2006 at 11:17 PM

you really need the weight of the body on it...

56astro - August 4th, 2006 at 02:20 PM

Also look at the info in this link:

http://www.vw-resource.com/rearaxle.html 

Be vewy, vewy carefuw!

Craig Torrens - August 4th, 2006 at 03:05 PM

Just undo the 4 bolts holding the cover and hit it with a large hammer/mallet on the inner surface of the spring plate...................................easy, did one two nights ago! Once the outer cover is off the spring plate easily 'jumps' off the lip holding it. Just don't be near the spring plate when it 'let go'.:thumb

56astro - August 4th, 2006 at 03:22 PM

It's easy if the suspension has been lowered, there is less 'tension' on the spring plate. But if the ride height is close to standard then there is heaps of load on the 'bump stop' lip.

oldnslo - August 4th, 2006 at 07:28 PM

Thanks guys, will give it a try tomorrow, might get the girlfriend to stand on the floorpan for a bit of weight

kirk - August 5th, 2006 at 07:13 PM

girlfriend and weight should never be mentioned in the same sentance...lol..
havn't you learnt that yet?

good luck dude.

keep us posted on your recovery:tu:

oldnslo - August 5th, 2006 at 11:38 PM

Nah she wont see this , its our little secret, bless her heart,
swing arm popped off with little drama, all that worry for nothing.
thanks all for the advice

shaihulud - August 6th, 2006 at 08:10 PM

Get an steel 8 inch/200mm turnbuckle.
Put the ring in a shocker bolt in the top shocker hole in the shocker tower.
Put the hook in a hole in the spring plate.
Tighten carefully until the spring plate lifts off the stop.
Remove the cover plate.
Lever the spring plate outwards until it is clear.
Lower the spring plate on the turnbuckle.
MARK THE POSITION OF THE SPRINGPLATE ON THE STOP with a cold chisel. Very important. Do not fail to do this.
MARK THE POSITION OF THE TORSION BAR, THE SPRING PLATE AND THE OUTER EDGE OF THE HOLE WITH A PAINT STICK before removing the spring plate.
Hold the torsion bar in (tap it with a hammer) while you lever off the springplate.
Reassemble with lots of rubber grease to stop squeeks.

BEWARE. If the spring plate lets go it can break a bone. Be very careful and keep away from where a loaded springplate will go if it lets loose..

To adjust.

There are 44 splines on the inner end of the torsion bar. They are 8.18 degrees apart.
There are 40 splines on the outer end of the torsion bar.
They are 9 degrees apart.
Therefore one spline clockwise on the inner end and one spline anticlockwise on the outer end is 9 - 8.18 = 0.72 degrees different.
Work in multiples of inner and outer to get what you want.

Why did you mark your original positions?
So that when it gets all too confusing you can go back to where you started from and try again.

Have fun. This can be one of the most frustrating things to do on a VW. Getting it right will give you a good sense of satisfaction.

oldnslo - August 7th, 2006 at 05:56 PM

Mark the position?
Didn t do that, took photos tho.
Thanks for the advice