What would make wheel bearings wear premature?
 

This is on an 83' 5.0. This is a friend's car. He has rear drum brakes and says his rear wheel bearings need replacement after 16K miles. He is wondering why they need to be replaced so soon. I wasn't sure if drums had wheel bearings. Would you change them the same way you change the fronts?

Every wheel on any car has a bearing. That's what allows them to turn. The bearings on a solid rear axle are lubricated by the rear end gear oil. Check the level. You have to pull the diff cover, wheel and axle to change the bearings on a rear end.

Ok but what would make them go bad after 16K miles? Not due to lack of lube. Others have suggested the previous bearing that went bad may have harmed the axle. This sounds more reasonable than lack of lubrication. These bearings should last much longer than 16K. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Why not lack of lube? Maybe the axle is messed up. If the bearing doesn't get lubed, it will eat itself quick. If it didn't get installed correctly it would tear itself up too.