So had my truck on jackstands this morning and figured i'd check to see if my front wheel bearing is bad (curiosity killed the cat, right?) and there's about 1/2in of play when moving my wheel back and forth.

so a trip to the local advanced to get a $20 wheel bearing (at least that what is was on my buddies dana 44, his wasn't solid axle like mine). $140 because the whole hub has to be replaced.

How often do these bearings fail? would i be better off going to the junkyard and buying a old hub for $25 and it outlasting my truck? thoughts?

 

go with the new one it's not worth the agravation trying to pull 2 hubs off rather than just the one on your truck.
while you're in there replace your universal or at least check it, check ball joints too.

 

^ agreed...unfortunately the only thing I'd like to add is that if one side went, the other side probably isn't far behind. May want to do them both at once.

 

+1 ^^^
i always replace parts in pairs( other side)
saves time and headaches down the road

 

I'd pony up the cash for 2 brand new ones. I personally never trust salvage yard parts for front suspension or steering. You just never know what your getting.

 

+1

I went to get an alignment, couldnt cuz driver side ball joints were bd.

changed out only driver side ball joints. got alignment.

This was 3 weeks ago, now my pass. side ball joints are bad, and i have play in my tie rods, so i have to fix that and get another 70 dollar alignment....

 

I replaced my passenger side wheel bearing about 3 months ago and ended up replacing my drivers side today. I guess I killed that drivers side wheel bearing because I replaced some studs yesterday and checked the bearing before I did anything and it was fine needless to say by the time I put everything back together it was in bad shape. I know where I goofed up though.