I have a 98 dodge with stock tires but replaced the tie rod ends, power steering pump, brakes rotors, rear end, and ball joints, basically everything but the wheel bearings and front end differential. When I'm driving I can feel and hear a loud thump noise in my front end and it feels like the steering gets sloppy and centers again. It's very intermittent and sporadic. I pulled My wheel off and put it back on and confirmed a bad wheel bearing ( slop in the up down motion) however I was told my issue wouldn't be caused by this. It seems to differentiate left and right but I know the shocks and vibrations can be coming from anywhere. Sometimes it makes a grinding noise and sometimes it's silent. I replaced the pump and gearbox hoping the issue would go away but it didn't. Replaced the tie rod ends and it didn't go away. Alignment wasn't cheap ( before doing all the work) and don't want to do that agin since I did it 4 months ago. Tires are good and Eveything is tight minus the slight slack in the wheel and shaft going into the front diff.

 

Replace the part(s) you know are bad(wheel bearing) and go from there.

 

Something you could try to help narrow it down;

Start the truck, and while parked, have a buddy oscillate the steering wheel back and forth just slightly. While he's doing that, you trace the entire system looking for any joints or shafts that have play in them.

Don't stick your hand anywhere it'll get caught or squished. Also, I'd fix the wheel bearings regardless.