I'm replacing inner and outer wheel bearings on the front of my 1983 245. I can't get the old inner race out. The Bentley manual says to use a brass drift or "press tool" to get it out. A drift(OK, a large socket)worked OK for the outer race but won't contact the inner. The local parts shops look at me like I'm nuts when I ask for a press tool to get this out. I hate to reuse the old race with a new bearing. This has to be a no-brainer but I'm stumped. Any ideas on getting this thing out or where can I get the proper press tool?
Thanks,
Curt

Have you looked closely at the hub, there are often two recesses in the hub body to allow a punch acsess to the back of the inner race.
If all else fails a good tip for removing outer races from blind holes is to (carefully) run a continuos bead of weld around the inner surface of the race.
As the weld cools and contracts it shrinks the outer race, once it has cooled down you can usually remove it by hand
Note:- a coat of anti-spatter spray around the adjacent hub surface is a wide precaution.
Colin.

Another trick for getting the new ones in is to take a hacksaw or narrow cutoff disk and cut one side of the old race through .
It holds it's shape enough to beat the new one in and is springy enough to pull back out without any problems

I've always had luck with driving the races out with a heavy hammer and a punch. There isn't much of the edge exposed but enough to work my way around it to drive it out.

The new races respond to spending the night in the refrigerator. I have a set of old races that I use to install the new. I reduced their diameter by grinding the outside down enough that they easily slip into the hub (you do NOT want them to fit tight or you won't get them out). I take the new cold ones and apply a little grease and get it started by tapping around the edge. I continue striking the edge until it is flush with the hub and then I use the old reduced diameter race and a hammer to tap the new race against its stop.

Randy

Hi Curt
I have always used a long punch (or drift ) to remove the outer races. Tap on one edge and then the other, or go around it and keep it square to the bore as it moves out. There are tools made to install the new ones without damage - KD makes a set of aluminum discs that fit on a mandrel and they prevent scratching the race. If you are carefull, then just use the same punch to install the new race, but if you slip, you may run the punch down the taper and scratch or nick it.