With the bearing cut paper thin I use a cold chisel and dead blow hammer to make the first split of the bearing by setting it on the edge and pounding inward. Be careful not to damage the strut when doing this. This will start the ripping of the very thin surface left in the cutlass bearing. Once you've started the rip simply insert some hex head bolts into the set screw holes and tighten them evenly and you'll collapse the cutlass inward relieving the matting surface pressure in the process.
If you do not have set screws your next move is to use a maple dowel or piece of thin fiberglass pounded between the strut and the bearing to split it along its entire length. Better yet take the time to make two cuts. Please do not use a screw driver or metallic object to pound and split the bearing. A metallic object could quite easily score the inside of the strut as it may be a harder metal. Use an object that is softer in composition than the strut.