rear torsion bar removal

[jetmech]

So as my restoration of my daughters 74 super beetle continues, I have removed the entire left rear suspension, trailing arms, shocks, bearings etc..

I'm at the point of removing the torsion bar, the cover came off with little problems, only one bolt broke off so just a minor headache. I made a special tool to remove the swing arm so I can lift it off of the support and pry it away then loosen the tool to remove the load.

I measured the angle so it will go back to the same angle, my problem is the torsion bar itself does not want to come out, I can wiggle it up and down forward and back but when I pull on it there is absolutely no movement, Is this normal, and if not what would be the best way to remove it.
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74' Super Beetle

[ryohey]

keep wiggling, while pulling towards you. it will come.
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69 bug restoration thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=387230&highlight=

[[email protected]]

Can you get the other side out? The splined section that they engauge in the center goes all the way through. If you can get one side out, you could take a long extension, or section of pipe, and tap the bar out from the opposite side. Worst case, you could hit the bar on the other side into the troubled side to see if you can dislodge it. If doing this, be careful you don’t damage the splines with whatever you’re using to tap with. Don’t tap the opposite bar all the way through since it may be hard to get back in the splines to get it out.

[beetlenut]

There's probably some rust on the splines sticking out of the other side of the center section. If you keep pulling outward while wiggling side to side and up and down, eventually you'll break the rust off and it will come.
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scrapyards are for quitters
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[grandpa red]

Last resort would be to make a collar to go around the shaft then attach a slide hammer to it .

Maybe I'm over thinking
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'72 Beetle

[PuddleRainbow]

Just did this, I rubber hammered it for a couple minutes. I had luxury of having fender off at the time.