Technical 56 Buick front wheel bearing issue

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.

 

I’ll give those a try, thanks guys

 

What saltflats said.

Ben

 

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.

 

Easy peezy!

 

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.

 

Put an oversize sway bar on it and you will be amazed again.

 

Grandpa had a curved punch I think he made it himself works great

 

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.

 

Good point about trying to find something that fits.