Axle Bearing Service - Dos and Dont's???

BurbMan wrote:

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Seal/bearing driver not required. Whittle a 2x4 down to the right size and or use a brass drift.

I found that a 3/4" slice of 1-1/2" PVC pipe is perfect for driving in the seals on my axles.

Driving seals on the axle?

I have a tool to pack the bearings. It stays down at the shop of the landscaper where I maintain a small fleet of trailers. My camper? Use my hands.
I had seal drivers for the big seals for the hubs on 16,000 plus axles. For the small hubs, I normally start tapping with top of 3 lb hammer head, holding handle vertical, then wood between seal and hammer.
The only "special" tool I grab is a punch, long enough to reach thru hub, leave room to hold. Needs a flat point, to catch the edge of race. And works better if it is something hard, tool steel, so it will transfer the impact to race, not distort or bounce around. Mine is long enough that I can catch the seal thru bearing, and pop it out. The old race works to drive the new one in.
BTW. In shop, I pick up the right size hammer. But in my tool box that rides in TV I only carry 1. It is not easy to tap gently with a big hammer, but it can be done. Hit hard with a little hammer? Not so much.