Any tips for driving out the bearing races?

[MiniSimp]

What should I use?
Any proven methods?

[WHITE_TRASH]

I use a broken 3/8x10" extension to drive mine out.  A long punch will also work or of course you could flag down a mac or strap-on...  I mean snap-on truck and spend $80 for a "real" bearing race remover punch.

[MiniSimp]

Drive them in to, or out of the ball?

[WHITE_TRASH]

I use the punch to drive them out and I use the old race's to drive the new ones in.  Ill start them into the bore with the old race and once the old race is in far enough that I have to tap it to remove it from the bore Ill use the punch to walk the race in slowly by going around the perimiter.
Also remember to turn the old race upside down when you are driving the new race into the bore.

[MiniSimp]

Nice. Thanks!

[89 toy]

use a brass drift punch it wont scratch the metal. a regular punch will scar up the metal if it slips off the race

[DAWGTOY]

i agree on the brass punch deal.
you should never use a hardened object such as a punch
to drive in races. use a brass drift punch or a mild steel rod.

[mr4x42u]

I keep a set of old races in my tool box at work of different sizes..old races i have found are the best way to punch in a new race..any old puny to get them out works for me,,who cares what it looks like coming out..as long as they go in with no damage..

[Willy Mammoth]

If in you find one you just can't seem to get out no matter how much you try, take a mig welder and weld a bead around the race and it will shrink it, then it will fall out. Only works for an inside race.

Watch out for brass chips when using a brass punch, you don't want one under a race.

[Makman]

Another trick is to whiddle down the OD of the old outer bearing race just a couple thousandths so that it can be used as a driver all the way in.  A belt sander works if you persevere and  have a good set of gloves.  Otherwise, ceramic tooling on a lathe works sweet if you have access.

Here's another one.  When driving on the race or punch, try not to hit the fingers with the hammer.  I hit this one three months ago and fortunately it stopped hurtin last week.

[MiniSimp]

  Ouch! I'll try to avoid that!