Bearings will be of a high grade steel that is heated to the correct temperature (ranging from blue to red) then cooled quickly usually in some form of oil, this will leave a case hardened surface of say five thousands of an inch, once this wears through the bearing is worn out (pitted and noisy). The metal is also usually quite brittle. Technology has moved on and the steel can be mixed with chromium, once polished it gives a good hard wearing surface, once the polished surface is breached it's worn out. Using excessive heat will mean it may not cool down to its original highly machined tolerances
With ring gears the metal is usually of the cast type so it can be heated to cherry red and lowered onto a flywheel, it will not have been pre heat treated or hardened, hence they wear
Peter
PS: Slightly off topic: I think the lack of basic engineering skills is also a problem with the young apprentices and the likes of fast fit fitters. I have seen manifold studs etc snapped off with air guns and the blank looks from the fitter
They have no concept of different metals, is the stud hardened with copper nuts......then you can probably use an air gun. Is the stud mild steel with mild steel nuts......then proceed with caution. Over tightening of mild steel nuts and bolts that snap off......we have all seen it
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