Rear Spring Plates (windy)

["Woolston, Craig" <cwoolsto@skw1.lmsw.lmco.com>]

>I had trouble getting the spring plates off to do the inners (I think
>Craig Woolston had mentioned the same problem, but I wasn't around to
>hear the answer), meaning I couldn't get them off.  I know it's a
>repeat, but can anyone tell me how to get the spring plates off of my
>'71 Squareback?

I have been meaning to tell all about my rear spring plate saga.  I went
and purchased a 30" crowbar, chain for compressing the thing back to
together and a whole new attitude.

I then attempted to remove the spring plates.  Unfortunately I was
unsuccessful in removing them.  I stopped because I was starting to mode
the car around on the jack stands while I jumped on the crow bar (when I
say it's stuck I wasn't joking).

So I decide to take it to a VW mechanic.  And before he tore my car
apart he measure the car for ride height and it turns out that the
driver's side is only lower by 3/4"(he scored major points here, since
the estimate was $250).  I guess too much driving around by myself.  So
I really didn't have that big of a problem.  So I quit for now.  At some
point I will probably end up doing the job but I'm going to wait until
the sag really is a sag.

Anyway while I was there we went through the process on another car and
I can't remember who right now, but thank you, was correct when they
said that the diagonal arms need to be removed or at least out of the
spring plates before you start prying.  It also helps to have a pry bar
that has a hook to it so you can insert it from the bottom and push
down.  After that it's pretty easy, just expect the spring plate to jump
say 1/2" once you get it past the stop.

Hope this helps.

Craig Woolston
'70 Sqback and '71 Fastback (Casper)
craig.woolston@lmco.com