Forgive me Henry, quite often in my replies or comments to the list I tend to
not state the obvious. Often times, just by keeping the bearing straight
while installing it is all that is required for a smooth installation. I do
stand by my statement that the better way to install bearings is to press
them. It is tremendously easier to start the bearing going straight and keep
it going straight. Further, frozen bearings dissipate the cold rather
rapidilly and after that happens quite often you find it has expanded and
gotten jammed because it is now half ina nd crookerd. Hammering bearings in
almost always shaves material away that was designed to retain the bearing.
Sure you can get away with it a time or two, but why would you want to do
that when you don't have to? Bear in mind that you are talking needle
bearings that are used in the suspension pivot points. Needle bearings do not
use the substantial races that larger caged roller ball bearings use. The
reason I mention that is it makes it much easier to damage, as in crush, the
outer race by hammering. The sudden impact of driving delicate bearings with
a hammer is a risk that I consider unneccesary, under most conditions. I far
prefer the more steady pressure exerted by a press, where everything is
perfectly aligned and square prior to beginning the installation process.
Certainly bearing installation can be done with a hammer, and is done daily
in many shops around the world. This does not make it the best way nor even a
good way to do it. Some people are either in too big a hurry to use a press
or flat out just don't care and hammer away. I have never had a customer look
twice at me installing bearings using a press, however let a finicky customer
see you pull out a hammer and make loud noises and see if he doesn't raise
objections. I understand everyone has their own opinions, you shared yours, I
shared mine. However, I believe all else being equal, most people who care at
all about their machine would have no objection to having bearings pressed in
instead of being driven in with a hammer.
