You're right, it is just the plastic. Didn't even realize that. I can't really get my arm up in there because the muffler is right in the way. Maybe I can find some kind of rod or something to stick up there to push on it. My ice scraper was a little too short. Otherwise, I guess I could take the bumper off, not sure how difficult that is.
Haven't had the CV joint looked at. Still getting noise when turning and getting a lot of exhaust system noise, something is rattling.