Let me start at the beginning. I bought my D-max about 3 months ago. About two weeks after I got it I noticed a clunking noise at the front end, thought it was a four wheel drive bind. Didn't think much of it. Went to rotate the tires a week later, found uneven wear on the rf. Checked the bearing, sign me up for the bad front bearing club. The truck was inspected just before I got it so I called the dealer I bought it from and he agreed to pay for half the part from his supplier. I wanted GM but ok, I'll take that deal. The dealer didn't call me back with any info and I let two weeks go by. I called him last week asked what was up, and he set up to have the part delivered to me. All is going well. So we go to install the part(Thanks for the writeup McRat..very helpful)tonight, got done. Then checked the new bearing for play and it has almost as much play as the bad bearing. So we check the balljoints and everything else over (like I did prior to diagnosing the bearing problem) and find that it is indeed the "new" bearing we just installed. So we reverse the process and put the old bearing back in. Nothing like doing something twice. BTW The old bearing doesn't have any play now..go figure.
I learned my lesson I am going to put a GM part back in it. I just hope the dealer handles it well. I'll see tomorrow, he will get a phone call after the parts guy hears from me. Sorry for the long post....VERY FRUSTRATED I had to vent.

Well I got the new GM hub assembly. Installed it yesterday morning. NO PLAY what so ever in the new bearing. The steering seems tighter to me with the new bearing in.
On Thursday, I talked to both the supplier of the previous part and the dealer I bought the truck from. The supplier said they would refund the money and the dealer said he would cut me a check for his half of the previous part. I hope all goes as planned, the way my luck has been going recently, anything can happen.

how many miles on your truck? what did you notice besides clunking in the front end. just curious cause i have a lifted truck and am wondering how many miles usually between wheel bearing failures.

If the bearing is defective it's defective! But, when you installed them did you rotate the wheel while tightening the lock nut? Very important to do so.

mine is going out and i have 55,000 mile on

I had about 75,000 on it when I noticed it. The biggest thing is play in the bearing. Grab the tire top and bottom and try to move it, if there is play then it is bad.
No, I didn't rotate the wheel while tightening the axle shaft nut, I never heard that before. I did rotate it after it was tight.

Ive replace both mine and only 84k. The pass side was first but know why that went dam snow and curbs. The drivers just a few weeks ago but don't know about that one. Got the drivers under warrenty told the parts guy was the the one I put on a few months ago :D

Seems to be common... my truck is stock with the exception of the Ranchand on the front - and slightly larger wheels....

RF went out at about 95k, left front at 102k.. both under warranty - since i didn't purchase my extended right away - it covered me til 109k...

when you installed them did you rotate the wheel while tightening the lock nut? Very important to do so.

Nope bad info there. thas nowhere in the factory procedures

Ive got 90k on mine and 37s with 0 bearing problems.
matter of fact theres NOTHING whatsoever wrong with my dmax:D

I would not say it is bad info! It may not be totally necessary in this case, but it does help slightly to seat the bearing and help center the shaft in case there is a small amount of debris. ;)

Ive got 90k on mine and 37s with 0 bearing problems.
matter of fact theres NOTHING whatsoever wrong with my dmax:D[/quote]

Well you better go knock on wood or something you just put a hex on the whole truck:D