I dont understand how you could have bent the pad into a horseshoe?? You remove all the hardware it slides straight back to come right off. It's a shame you bent the pads metal frame all to ****. Theres a place in San Antonio Texas that redoes them. They would give you money for an unbent core since they redo the metal frame with new foam and padding. I have one coming my way redone for my sons car for $180 shipped.