brass drifts/punches or specialised steel bearing race punches for bearing work? (1 Viewer)

[sunrk]

Up to now I've just had cheap brass punches but they're easily worn. Found a set of steel bearing race punches made by mayhew (imported to Australia by Dawn Tools) and was curious about those. Brass drifts/punches are readily available but bearing race punches are harder to get.

What's the general consensus? I know the idea is to avoid damaging/scoring races or the seat where each race is fitted.

 

[Railwelder93]

I just use a cold chisel from Home Depot to get them out. IDK exactly how hard a bearing race is, but its way harder than a cheap chisel.

Harbor freight has a pretty dang good race driver set with aluminum pucks for installation.

 

[Railwelder93]

Whatever your version of harby is down there, idk.

 

[Railwelder93]

Something along the lines of This + any old punch/ chisel has worked for pretty good for me doing knuckles, diffs and stuff like that.

 

[BILT4ME]

I use brass when installing and when I have a large enough area to hit when removing.

I do it for safety, as I have had a bearing race chip the steel chisel I was using and embedded it in my knuckle.

I will only use a steel punch if the brass one keeps shearing off the tip because it's too narrow.

 

[Corbet]

I use a Cornwell set off the truck. Anything similar should be great. And no I don’t remember what I paid for mine but not that.

 

[robnicko]

For wheel bearing race installation I kept an old inner & outer race and cut a slot in each.
These are then used to push the new races into place. can either be done by hammer or i use a long bolt & nut with plates and just pull in the new races.
The race with the cut slot then just falls out once new race in place

 

[mudgudgeon]

Scraps of mild steel, or brass.
I find brass chips away to easy, unless you are hitting on a wide/ flat surface.

Any well made cold chisel is gonna be too hard for use for installation of a new race.
I've used cold chisels to break races off many times, did so last weekend. There's always a risk a cold chisel or bearing race will break away in sharp shards.

If you've ever had to pull a shard out fractured metal out of your skin, safety glasses aren't even a question

 

[mudgudgeon]

For wheel bearing race installation I kept an old inner & outer race and cut a slot in each.
These are then used to push the new races into place. can either be done by hammer or i use a long bolt & nut with plates and just pull in the new races.
The race with the cut slot then just falls out once new race in place

I use the same method

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

I use the same method

^^^^this!

 

[landtank]

I drive the old races out with a long steel drift. New races go in with the harbor freight kit. That kit works great and cheap

 

[leonard_nemoy]

I would personally recommend using an oval bearing rack punch designed specifically for bearing races but I also used to sell tools for a living and I am a believer in the right to for the job.

Something like this

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

These are designed specifically for bearing races and should not hurt the bearings races.


That being said bearing races are certainly a job that can be done with any of the techniques mentioned above.

 

[sunrk]

Last time I did hub bearings I ended up doing some slight damage to the new races but was able to minimise it.

I'm keen to try proper race punches/drifts made for the purpose but I also have some old races I've hacksaw-cut for fitting new ones. Can't always find them as bearings are something I'm doing probably every 2 to 3 yrs.

 

[Dave 2000]

For wheel bearing race installation I kept an old inner & outer race and cut a slot in each.
These are then used to push the new races into place. can either be done by hammer or i use a long bolt & nut with plates and just pull in the new races.
The race with the cut slot then just falls out once new race in place

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Being a mechanic and dealing with various bearing races time after time I use this method, simple and saves having a 'kit' where parts go missing.

Regards

Dave

 

[SNLC]

Tip: freeze the races in the freezer to make them go in easier.

Cheers