Bent damper pad

Hello there my dear workshoppers.

I have problems with my damperpad bar, and I've noticed there are some real pros here when it comes to the manufacturing and handy-work side of things, so I'll give this a shot.

I bought a M55G 2 years ago and it seems it never got here in mint condition as they say. I've noticed minor problems with the dampening pad, but only now that I'm trying to transcribe and play Senor Mouse (Gary Burton & Chick Corea) I've really run into problems. There's no way I can play fast, i.e. often only hitting the outside of the bars without enourmous frame-sounds and ringing.
I know there's another thread about ringing, but wasn't really sure what was meant there and in my case it's clearly not a general issue.

The first problems I had were the lowest bars not being dampened as much or as quick as other bars. That was due simply to the one or two of the pins that hold up the thread for the bars not being quite "in". That just needed some light hammering and solved the ringing of two bars or so.

The real problem is the dampening bar.

• playing on the ends of the bars (i.e. right over the dampening pad) makes very loud thumping sounds that go right throught the frame into the ground... I live in a shared flat with other appartments underneath. That just cannot be done! Plus it sounds terrible.
• In order to minimize the thumping sounds when playing in the middle or upper range, I need to push down the pedal somewhat so it's only lightly touching. But because my dampening bar seems to be bent, or just not horizontal, at this point the lower register is not dampened anymore (from pressing down the pedal slightly) and everything starts to ring. I.e. the combination of one part of the vibraphone sending strong thumps through the entire frame with another part not even being dampened makes for ringing in the lower octave or so.

I grew up taking lessons from classical percussionists who basically were all "make clear high motions when hitting the vibes" and "play in the middle of the bars whenever possible", and I used to not be very interested in really fast playing, so I guess I haven't ever really gotten sensitive about this dampening issue. But when you hit the ends of the bars alot (right above the dampening pad) - man. New instrument, please!

I know about the vanderplas dampening pads seemingly being a great help. And I can see why they would be. And I'm seriously considering that, since it's affordable. But I'd like to get the dampening pad correctly adjusted first and see what it's like then.
I've been watching some vids of Gary Burton play, and you often get this nice angle from the side where you can very nicely see how his bars all are lifted exactly the same amount at the same time when he uses his pedal. I guess that's kind of a prerequisite to advances phrasing, huh?

Anyhow. I don't really understand the mechanics of the damper pad and bar. Where do I go about changing the angle of the pad, so the bar is perfectly alined with (all or most of) the bars?

I'd really appreciate some help here.

Thanks!
John

PS I must mention though, of course having low notes sustain longer (because of non-horizontal dampening-bar) can be of use to. makes it easier to keep a "bass note" or chord while playing other stuff over it. But also then you become much more sloppy about dampening because you can use the pedal more! So probably not a good idea to keep it this way.