I was driving down the road today with no issues when all of a sudden I hear squealing coming from the front driver's side wheel and it starts pulling to the left.

I get out, tug on the wheel, and it has play in it. I know it didn't a week ago as I just got the thing inspected and I saw him check that.

I drive to work and the squealing is soon replaced with grinding. The grinding is soon replaced with clunking.

I get to work (this whole trip is maybe 2 miles) and the wheel bearing is SMOKING and the dust cap has come (melted?) off.

WTF?? I've had bearings go before but they take WEEKS of groaning before they go. This is wicked sudden!

 

When wheel bearings fail they all fail randomly and when you least expect it. They can go from no symptoms to total failure in an instant. When was the last time you cleaned, examined, and repacked them?

 

I just bought the truck so I have no idea.

In all my other cars they would groan for weeks before failing!

 

Mine went out all of a sudden and it locked/froze up the caliper on the other side