Checking Wheel Bearings.
-------------------------
Jack up a front tire.
Grab the top of the tire with one hand and the bottom with the other hand.
Push and pull with both hands.
If you feel any kind of movement then you either need to tighten or replace your Wheel Bearings.

Checking Needle Bearing.
-------------------------
Jack up a front tire.
Reach in behind the tire and grab the half shaft close to the tire and try to shake it about.
If it moves then chances are that the Needle Bearing is gone.
If there is a little movement and you look and find it is not the needle bearing, then I would have to venture a guess with the half shaft.


Also, while you have everything apart I would check the ball joints, upper and lower, tie rods, and see how easy they are to move by hand. If you can move them without a problem by hand then I would be getting new ones.
And when I say move easy I mean easy, like you push on it with one finger and it moves, that's easy.


Just want to say that this is from my own personal experience when I had my Front End Noise. Use it how you wish.

Hope this helps.