ok,give me a second to grasp all of this.......got it......replaced ball joints,tie rod ends,etc........already worn out unit bearings came out and went back in without damage during ball joint change?........ok!...... if they did get replaced and i missed that part (highly possible after a 12 pack)....they got screwed up in the process........ no doubt in my mind you have a wheel about to fall off..... drivers side most likely by your description...... replace with GOOD ones or better yet,good time to get rid of them and do the "hybrid" manual hub conv

 

thats probaly it......i'd check that 1st!

 

nope. if its bad it will be loose. grab tire at the 12 o'clock position and yank it in/out with all your might. should be no play. jack up the truck and spin the wheel, other than a brake drag or scrape, there should be no noise.

 

I checked the center caps for rocks, That was my first thought with the friends I have. The wheel bearing that's in there has been in the entire time. They told me it was fine when they put the ball joints in.