Replaced every year? Somebody's attempting to blow smoke someplace that smoke doesn't belong. That may be true with EXTREMELY poor metallurgy, but certainly isn't considered "normal procedure". Of course, how would we know until taken apart for the first time.
There are quality, US or Japanese bearings available at almost every auto parts house that are exact replacements for the "offshore" junk. Same numbers marked on them. They aren't all that much more expensive, either.
A key factor, too, is your choice of lubricants. Though I don't use it personally, over the years I have found that readily-available red Mobil-1 synthetic grease is a great choice for wheel bearings. Again, at the parts house.
Though some tout molybdenum (or "moly") enhanced grease for wheel bearing applications, I won't use it for this application.
Another thing to consider is the use of "double-lip" seals. Same size and function as came with your Puma, but seal better. That's not only sealing IN the grease better, but sealing OUT water, and to a lesser-extent, dust. Moisture may be the root cause of your bearings pitting.
Remember when re-assembling everything, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness". Don't do the job on a windy day!
Pop
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Terry 250RKS, perfect for the two of us and the pups.
2000 F-350 7.3L CC/LB 4WD Lariat 3.73's
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