Bicycle Mechanics - Bent dust cap on rear hub

In my haste to repack the hubs on some free wheels I received I bent the dustcaps which protect the bearings in the hub before I realized 1) what they were 2) How delicate they are and 3) that they were stuck in there pretty good.

Thankfully they don't seem to be bent too badly and I could probably just go at them with a pair of needle nose pliers to straighten them out but I figured I'd come here and check if anyone had some tips on fixing dustcaps.

Should I tear them out and try and replace them or bend them back into shape?

I'd avoid the pliers.

If you do want to straighten them, try using a socket and hammer on a flat surface, preferably something that won't mar the cap. The socket can help getting them back in straight, but a soft-faced hammer works well too.

The socket and hammer approach sounds promising. They are still in the hubs. would I have to remove them to use the socket and hammer?

If they're already pressed in, the socket isn't likely to help. It's more something you do when repacking the hub.

Removing the dustcaps often distorts them. I just reshape them with the socket and tap them back in. They're not a critical seal, just a shield.