We have installed 2 sets of front bearings on this car in less than 5000 miles. New hubs the second go round. And now we have another grinding sound from bearing. WTH?

Any advice what we're doing wrong?

 

Using chinese made bearings?

 

This. Also, make sure the axle nut is properly torqued. The initial tightening is important since it sets the bearing preload. Ramming it down with an impact gun can cause premature failure.

How do you know the grinding noise is coming from the bearing in the first place?

 

How were the bearings installed? A press in normaly used but I've seen people do some stupid stuff. I got rid of my previous mechanic when he bragged about installing someone's wheel bearings with a sledge hammer and showing me this beaten up 10 y/o sledge........

 

It's important to make sure the nut is tight enough. Driving with it loose will kill a bearing just going around the block. Don't be afraid to crank it down.

 

Probably. My son picked them up at O'Reilly so I'm not sure what brand. Been installed at a machine shop with a press we took the spindle to.

 

Make sure you use a new nut when you install the bearings. Once those nuts are torqued down once, you can't reuse them, they will back off and loosen.