I've bought some replacement rear wheel bearings intending to fit them myself. But there doesn't seem to be a way to move the spacer between the current bearings to one side, to get enough purchase to drift them out. Looking in the workshop manual shows an elaborate bearing puller being used. I wondered if anyone had managed to remove the bearings without using one of these, and if there are any useful techniques I should know about? Thanks!

A trick I use is to get a long punch (drift in UK) insert through axel hole to make contact with opposite side bearings inner race. Align punch with spot where inner race and spacer make contact and tap the end (the part by your hand) of the punch to the side lightly a couple of times to move spacer over a hair then proceed to tap the end of the punch to drive out bearing using inner race. You'll do this several times all the way around the diameter of the inner race watching progress so as not to cock the bearing in the bore.

Obviously don't worry about damaging the inner race surface (or balls for that matter) as you're installing new bearings.

John