I watched the video and realized I can use my socket set instead of buying the bearing press kit and can even install the new bearing without any fire or ice !!!
This is the socket I used to press (or more like hammer) the hub out of the bearing... It fit perfectly.
Note the dents in it suggesting that it's not Chromium-vanadium steel but cheap Chinese Chromed metal.... which is a good thing because it bends as opposed to exploding.
Then I used this socket to pound the outer race out of the knuckle... It clears the knuckle shoulder without any grinding down for clearance.
It doesn't actually push on the outer race. It pushes on the inner race instead and the ball bearings but they won't push through the outer race.
The ball bearings will be bashed to hell but it's the old bearing anyway...
Then, instead of putting the knuckle in the oven, you grease up your new bearing, set it in the well supported knuckle and gently tap around the outer race in a circle to slowly tap the bearing into the knuckle (old school method my brother-in-law told me about).
Once your bearing gets flush with the knuckle, you place your old bearing on top of the new one to push it all the way in.
Then you install your big c-clip.
Then, you use this socket which fits perfectly into the inner race along with the inverted extender bar, so you don't mash your new bearing.
Or this extension if you need more clearance.
Then, when the spindle is close to hitting the socket but well seated in the inner race, you use this socket to finish pushing the hub in.
It's a bit wobbly but the spindle is almost in.
Then your knuckle is finished and you saved $40 and two trips to the machine shop !!
I wish I would have seen that video and thought of this earlier but who knows?? Maybe I already wrecked my new bearings and will need to do this all over again ?!!?
A great thing about pressing in the bearing is that you can cake the whole thing with grease, including the knuckle, to help feed the bearing in and prevent rust.
Another good pointer from the video is to cut the old race off the hub with a cut-off disc at an angle.
That way you can wedge your chisel into the crack to break it open.
I was hammering the point of my chisel into flat metal and took the edge off it. (it's was a brand new wood chisel)
Another thing of note from the video is the nice clean rust free components he was working with and the tiny ass little hammer he was using.
That just wouldn't cut it up here in the North East salt belt...
This is what I'm dealing with...
It adds a whole new layer of difficulty to the project. (usually about a 1/4" thick layer)
This is the hammer I use...