Bearing race install with no driver

[nukegoat]

Bad idea. Always use aluminum or brass to drive bearing races. Impact sockets are hardened and will damage your races.

EDIT: You don't care about what you're hitting the socket with; it's the socket hitting the race you care about.

A driver which has a diameter close to the race's is always preferable to a (soft) punch or drift. The bore is softer than the race and if you drive one side in too far, you'll damage the bore. That's why a round driver and a press or clamp is always preferable. It's not impossible to use a drift or (soft) punch, you just have to be really careful.

You can check your punch to see if it's hardened. If you can scratch it with a file, it's soft.

Impact sockets are less hard than regular sockets and certainly softer than a bearing race. They will work fine if you hold them against the race and tap the socket with a hammer.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Most overlooked pro tip - put the new races in the freezer the night before

 

[IdahoDoug]

You can use the old race just to get it started and a little ways in, so the old race does not get stuck in. Once the new race is started square, you can then use something brass to keep it moving, but there's little value to using the old race from that point - especially to shoving the old race in so far it's now also stuck in. Just be absolutely double sure you are putting the new race in with correct orientation. When using a flipped old race, it can cause you to not focus on that.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

So I had them in the freezer, and used some brass drifts. Seems easy enough to keep it even and round robin nail it.

Knuckle job done, truck drives, hallelujah.

 

[1973Guppie]

Something like this would be good? Mayhew Pro 61360 3 Pc. Brass Drift Punch Set - Hand Tool Drift Punches - Amazon.com

yup

 

[mudgudgeon]

If you do chose to use the old bearing races make sure to cut through them on one side. That way they don't get stuck and can be pulled out easily.

this.
use a zip cut blade and slice through it. Works an absolute treat. perfect size every time.
I've previously used brass drifts (still do), but using the old race is a revelation.