'86 4000S slight bend in tierod and repeat bearing failures

[nicholls@mikey.convex.com (Sam Nicholls)]

Hi everybody.  I've got what are probably a couple simple questions
regarding my '86 4000S....

1)  While removing the right-side tierod end from the strut, I
put a slight bend in the tierod.  I was using a prybar, but promise
not to do that again ;(

Anyway, everything has been reassembled and the tierod still fits
onto the strut, but the bend must have thrown the front wheel
alignment off.

So my first question is, can I just get the front end aligned and
live with this slight bend?  Or must the tierod be replaced?


2)  The reason I was removing the tierod is because the right-side
front wheel bearing and hub needed to be replaced.  This is the
3rd time that this bearing has gone bad in 3 years.  The only
problem I can think of is that the car was run up onto a curb
pretty hard on the right side about 2 years before the first 
bearing failure.  There doesn't appear to be any obvious damage 
to the strut components or the wheels.  Has anybody else had 
repeat bearing failures like this?  Any advice?

thanks,
Sam Nicholls <nicholls@rsn.hp.com>
Hewlett-Packard CXTC