I broke my new front wheel bearings in the process of pressing them in. I didn't know you had to support the inner race while pressing them into the spindle and now half of the inner race is hanging out. Hub also has play in it, probably from the inner race hanging out.

Could I reuse them by pressing them back out and trying to press them back in again correctly? Or are they trashed and I need new wheel bearings?

On a 98 Civic EX if its any help.

 

Get a new bearing

 

Ended up going to a shop, they used a screw press to snug the inner race back up after I pressed them back in using my shop press and the old inner race as a die.

They said it would be fine, bearing has no play and its quiet, not weeping any grease either. What do you think H-T? Both wheel bearings in pic and new bearing for comparison.

 

Remember how the rotor side inner race of the old bearing most likely stayed on your hub when you disassembled it? You did the same thing to the back side inner. Not ideal, but no big deal. You didn't actually break anything. Lesson learned though, next time you'll support the inner as well.

 

it will likely wear out early. I had the same thing happen before and end result was it only lasted about 2-3 years of daily driving.

 

Potentially. I forgot that, if he didn't have the inner race supported, that the rotor side *****/races may have been compromised.

 

wouldnt stop me from running it lol

 

Me either.

 

You should replace the bearing. The races have ramps preventing separation after the ball cage in installed (which you have clearly violated). As this is the case, you will end up damaging the *****, and the race, by pressing them back in, which will shorten the life of the unit. Number 1 cause of failed bearings??? Improper installation.

Technicians do this all the time. It cuts the life of the unit in half if you're lucky. A bearing with a dent in it is no longer a bearing. It is a bearing waiting to be replaced.... again...