Wheel bearings gone bad in less than a year

[TheIxian]

So I bought this vehicle (1992 Plymouth Voyager SE) about a year ago. Since then I have replaced, among other things, all of the wheel bearings.

Just recently, however, I am getting the characteristic grinding noise from the front of the car which is unmistakably a bearing going out.

Now, the front bearings are assemblies and are trivial to replace and so I find it hard to believe that I might have screwed things up when putting them in.

There is also the fact that I have had them off again at least once since I did the front axles a few months later.

Anyway, barring improper installation or just plain cheap parts (which they are) is there anything that could cause wheel bearings to go bad this quickly? Say, perhaps, if the transmission was out of alignment (which it may be since the inner CV joint boot on the driver side axle was torn when I replaced it which, from what I have read, can be a symptom of a transmission alignment problem)

I just want to know, if I replace the parts again with higher quality ones will this just happen again?

Thanks.

[GTP Dad]

Bearings usually only fail as the result of a lack of lubrication. It is possible that the bearings you put in earlier were not properly lubricated at the factory. Sometimes this happens with cheaper quality parts. I don't know where you bought the bearings from but you may want to try another brand. Secondly, make sure the CV shafts are properly torqued. If they are loose they can cause the bearings to be improperly loaded and fail prematurely.

[TheIxian]

Thanks for the reply.

I am a real newb when it comes to automotive work but am motivated to learn.

I guess I don't know what you mean by properly torqued.

[GTP Dad]

The axle nut must be torqued with a torque wrench to s specific amount. Usually 125 to 145 foot pounds depending on the vehicle. It the nut is not properly tightened and torqued the bearing may move slightly causing it to wear. You need to purchase a Chiltons or Haynes manual to give the proper specs on torquing these nuts.

[TheIxian]

Oh I gotcha. (duh). Yeah, I just basically tightened it until I felt comforatable that it would not come loose (fairly tight I guess) can overtightening cause problems?