you wont need a big hammer, just a pry bar, take the end caps off and then from the top side just pry behind the spring plate, it should come off quite easy.
yup...
but you should find some way to make a permanent mark on the end of the tube housing to make sure you get the right position for installing them again.
when i disasembled the rear of my oval i used the primative tape measure and took several measurements from the body mount to the springplate/backing plate mounting holes...
then i found one of these....
....place it right on top and at the rear most end of the unsprung springplate and take a measurement.
but first...it is very important that you take a measurement of the chassis, because it will not be sitting level (or it is likely to be sitting different when you put it all back together). place the angle meter on the tunnel at the middle of the chassis to figure out the degree that the chassis is sitting at so you can + or - that from the reading of your unsprung springplate to get the proper angle.
say when you take it apart your chassis reading is 0 degrees and your unsprung springplate reading is 15 degrees.
when you go to put it back together, you find that your chassis reading is now +5 degrees (nose down) so then you'll want a springplate reading of 10 degrees.
that's if you want to put it back to the way it was. if you want to re-index the torsion bars upon re-assembly...take your chassis measurement, then index your torsion bars & springplates accordingly with the angle meter.
hope that helps.