Question on repurposing toe link bearing (M-5A460-M) for knuckle/toe link bushing

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I pressed out the toe link bearings in order to replace the rear knuckle bushings, as suggested in various forum threads.
This bearing is considerably wider than the knuckle bushings they will replace. Okay, so the outer race can be centered in the knuckle arm even though it will extend out on each side.

My question is what about the toe link "fork"? The gap between the fork ends is 1.75" while the inner bearing race is 1.96" wide. Should I be spreading the fork ends to be wider?

This photo shows one bearing removed from a spare toe link, and a second bearing aligned on one end of the fork (the end with the welded nut). You can see the 0.2" overlap at the other fork end.

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Bonus question:
Do these bearings wear and become loose? The alignment shop rocked my left rear wheel side to side and showed me that the toe link bearing had a little slop in it, allowing movement of the toe link (and hence the wheel).

 

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So it turns out that the links are not that hard to bend to shape with even a modest vise.
'SallGoodMan.

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