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streetbuggy8804
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009
Posts: 652
Location: Placentia,ca
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 Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:12 am Post subject: EASIEST way to remove spring plates |
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| This will be the 4th time that I have had to adjust my spring plates in my buggy. Since I have a heavier motor in it now, I am trying to get my ride height just right before installing my axles. Problem is that I absolutely hate doing spring plates at this point. I believe that I have the right degree that I am shooting for. It is the actual prying, begging and plea-ing required to get to plate off of its seat that drives me crazy. Does anyone have a good trick or easier way to get the spring plates to come loose? And help would be greatly appreciated. |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4927
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:31 am Post subject: |
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Do you use a tool like this to remove the spring plates?
http://www.clukey.com/beetle/66beetle/img_0070.jpg
When you have things apart, try using some axle grease on the torsion bar inner/outer splines before putting things back together. I do this to make any future adjustments easier.
bryan
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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streetbuggy8804
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009
Posts: 652
Location: Placentia,ca
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| No I do not have that tool. The compression is not an issue. It's motivating it off of the stop that is the problem. I will try axle grease this time around though. |
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6767
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| Just stick a pry bar in the gap underneath and push down on the pry bar |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4927
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:50 am Post subject: |
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Ditto on prying spring plate off of the perch. Make sure it's a controlled release, so things don't fly apart in your face.
_________________
I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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jspbtown
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5156
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:11 am Post subject: |
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| What about some adjustable plates so future adjustments are just a turn of a wrench? |
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RickS
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2005
Posts: 430
Location: Speonk, NY
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:50 am Post subject: |
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| jspbtown wrote: |
| What about some adjustable plates so future adjustments are just a turn of a wrench? |
If you have wide tires with tight spacing to the springplate, be advised that the adjusters take up 1/2" of additional clearance. |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4927
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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And the cheap Chinese-made adjustable spring plates may not live under abuse conditions.
bryan
_________________
I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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Q-Dog
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8699
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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I use a floor jack chained to the shock tower for controlled release of the tension ... and need nothing more than a large screwdriver wedged under the spring plate to clear the stop.
_________________
Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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streetbuggy8804
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009
Posts: 652
Location: Placentia,ca
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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| A pry bar is the method that I use although it is not near as easy as described. Maybe my failure to use an grease has caused things to be tougher than they should be. I do have adjustable spring plates on there. The adjuster doesn't give me enough adjustment though. More for fine tuning I suppose. |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20378
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Q-Dog wrote: |
| I use a floor jack chained to the shock tower for controlled release of the tension ... and need nothing more than a large screwdriver wedged under the spring plate to clear the stop. |
Ditto....
Another concept to think about is put angle gauge on spring with buggy at rest, write done number...... Put jack under trans and raise motor/buggy to height you want.... Read angle finder .. Subtract smaller number for larger number.... Results is amount of degrees you want to change PRELOADED in torsion spring plate.... IF its 2.5 degrees and when you put springs plates back on crank in a additional 2.5 degrees down preload...
Extensive amount of information on calculating preload in this document...
http://www.mydune-buggy.com/dl_files/reartorsionsetup.pdf
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20378
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| streetbuggy8804 wrote: |
| A pry bar is the method that I use although it is not near as easy as described. Maybe my failure to use an grease has caused things to be tougher than they should be. I do have adjustable spring plates on there. The adjuster doesn't give me enough adjustment though. More for fine tuning I suppose. |
IF you just threw them on.... Pull them off and start over..... They do fine tuning real well but if not installed with correct preload initially, they are pretty close to useless....
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...
Last edited by Dale M. on Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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streetbuggy8804
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009
Posts: 652
Location: Placentia,ca
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I have it all settled now. Just the thought of having to rip them off again is like torture. Must admit I was prying from the wrong spot. I pryed in the right location this time and they came right off. Going with 15 degrees. I'm pretty sure that's tonne get me right where I need to be. |
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