Are front wheel bearings adjustable?

[CalSgt]

Or does it also get set when you tighten the nut on the front?

^^^^ this

When you tighten the nut you are adding load to both bearing sets because they oppose each other.

 

[Ricko1966]

If it rocks when you push at 3 and 9 it's tie rods,if it rocks when you push at 12 and 6 it's ball joints. If it rocks at both,it's wheel bearings,or tie rods and ball joints.

 

[Scott91370]

Hate to disagree on the interwebs but I’m gonna…

Shot bearings can “clunk” in every direction

I don't see it as a disagreement, I see it as I left that out.
Should be: All directions - bearings or ball joints.

 

[Grit dog]

Anyone know how much it costs to have a mechanic do this job? Goofle says $50 - $300.

I'd like to do everything myself, but I don't have a torque wrench to set the bearing pre-load. And I don't trust the rentals when it comes to a torque wrench. It's probably been dropped 100 times. So if the cost of the wrench is cheaper than paying someone to do it, then I'd much rather buy the wrench and do it all myself. These days you can get a good digital torque wrench (Gearwrench brand) for $200.

Never used a torque wrench on traditional wheel bearings ever.
Get em good and snug to take out any slop. They should roll with a bit of interference at this point. Then back off to loose and hand tighten, if no perceptible slop or play and no interference when spinning the wheel like you felt earlier, you’re good.
If you’re between notches to lock it in, hand tight, go tighter rather than looser to lock it in.

 

[Sad Sack]

Agree. If you're getting the movement in all directions it's ball joints.
If it were only in the left/right axis it's be tie rod ends.

IIRC...Jack the front end up and place stands under the A-Frames, get a long bar then slide under tire and lift up. Using a dial gauge against the side of the wheel (may take some ingenuity here) you shouldn't see any movement, please chime in but if more than .006" - BJs need replaced. Please correct me if needed, I'm old and I like beer, so memory gets sketchy.