I agree, the little spring plates are a trouble to get off.
I would not use the same spring plates to put them back on.
Either use the screw on type, thin sheet stamped into a hollow nut shape, available at any hardware store. Or what I do is cut up a strip of rubber mountain bike tube which is quite thick, punch a hole in the center and then press it onto the peg with the concave side to the body. The fit is quite tight, and as the curved rubber is flattened to the body and the pegs are usually pretty scored up from the removal (twisting) of the sping plates, the letter is held quite securely. The good part is the next time they need to be removed, you can do it without breaking or tearing up the pegs.