Time to turn our attention to the front end.
First up, fitting new bearings and distance piece
Actually, that wasn't first up at all - I had originally planned on fitting tapered roller bearings, instead of these sealed standard ones, and doing away with the distance piece.
I ended up removing my new bearings, and fitting standard ones though before I had even gotten the chance to assemble them properly.
I don't know why, but several people that supposedly know better than I do got really het up, emotional, animated and upset with me about this.
Comments like it'll be dangerous, you'll kill yourself and it will never work were being banded about.
Knowing what I know now, i will not hesitate to fit tapered roller bearings next time I have cause to pull the front end apart again.