so I replaced my kingpins on my 56 Buick, I also bought new wheel bearings. The problem is that I can’t get the outter races out of the brake drums. Anyone have any tips? Thanks Joe
Find a socket that fits and drive it out? Lay a weld bead down on it and it should pop right out, I've never done this but I guess it works slick.
Can you catch an edge of the inner race from the back side? If so use a long drift and tap it out working in a star pattern.
As saltflats said, drift it out from behind. The hub usually has a couple of access areas to get at the bearing with a punch..
Clean the inside of the hub out good so you can see what you are looking at and there should either be a couple of recessed areas where you can see a bit of the backside of the race as intheweedz suggested or you will see a bit of the lip of the back side of the bearing race. A long drift with a good clean tip on it should work. Cheap drifts might not be strong enough as I have bent a couple of those I bought at a parts house during a side of the road wheel bearing emergency replacement.
Some newer cars I've changed races on, they had no recess for using a punch. I'd take my punch to the grinder and grind it sharp and square. There was just enough lip on the race to give it a whack.
Thanks everyone, did what you guys suggested and got them out. Big difference with new kingpins, shocks and wheel bearings.
I may have to get new springs at some point, I think it still has the original red springs in it. BJR - where would I get an oversized sway bar?
Someone had some made up a few years ago, a friend bought one and put it on his 56 Buick convert. Said it made an amazing difference in how it cornered. I suppose you could take some measurements and go look around a junk yard to find something with a bigger diameter that would fit.