Adjusting the bearing preload

I've always done front spindle bearings like our old auto shop instructor in high school taught us. Tighten down on the nut as you are turning and bumping on the tire to help seat the bearings. Continue to tighten until the nut bottoms then tighten to the next slot and put the cotter pin in. He was very adamant about NOT backing off the nut, "like an old man" he used to say. He always stressed the importance of tapered roller bearings having a little preload. That was 1980 and I've been doing it the same ever since with no trouble.