how can you tell if you have bad wheel bearings?....i lifted the front driver wheel off the ground and shook the tire front top to bottom and it feels tight., but when i shake it side to side there seems to be lot of play. Also there is a whinning noise more noticable when making right hand turns....anyone?

Are you talking about end play? I'm currently suffering from a loose idler arm, and end play of the rotor on the spindle. Even though I've tightened the castle nuts, it seems that after a few miles of driving it, the front wheels are loose again... So, I've retired it to the garage until I get the time to straighten it out.

As far as I know, if you can rock the wheel in any direction, and you are sure that you have no play in the idler arm, tie rod, ball joints or strut assembly, the only thing left is the bearings...

See if a search turns up any specs for tightening down the bearings after a cleaning/repack...