So, I finally got the front bearings done. Freezing helps, but it's not a night and day difference.
The results are in:

Passenger side - Great!

Driver side - Noisy I checked the races, they are fully seated and square. Then I removed the bearings and rotor. I cleaned out all the fresh grease from all surfaces. Pieces are awaiting re-install in the morning.

Are there such things as bad bearings? Are the odds any better with the redo? Am I just an effing moron?

well. probably

what brand of bearings?

SKF fronts

I got the gay ones for the rears

hmmm. ive used skf's and timkins w/o problems. you sure you lubed each individual roller well enuff (like do one side, rotate, do the other?)

lubed like a sob

How was the seal? Did ya put some lube on it? Sounds like - 1. Seal not lubed or incorrectly installled or 2. The bearings were too tight. Remember you have to be able to move the washer (actually slide) the washer back and forth after you tighten the nut to the spindle.

M

it did it tight and loose.

lube the seal? the seal that holds the bearing beind the roter? it had some grease in there, but not packed or anything.

You need a very thin layer of grease on the lip of the seal that sits on the stub. This make the seal rotate.

M