Well...nobody answered because this is common on 2nd gens. Bigger , and therefore heavier tires, bashing into rocks and curbs, take their toll on the plastic cages that suspend the bearing slugs in the housing. Cheap white grease is the usual lubricant...you get the picture.
I'd probably suggest for anyone who reads this, that cheap hub bearings don't last very long. The 2nd problem is that expensive hub bearings don't last a whole lot longer.
Spin free offers a kit that replace these bearings with actual tapered bearings and give you the bonus of locking hubs. They're not cheap, but good bearings with metal cages tend to take a bigger load. You can drill the hub casting and tap for a grease zerk so you can add grease and drive out moisture. The locking hubs decrease load forces, make using a front locker easier and likely offer a small mileage increase.
Downsides: These kits will not work with factory rims. They widen your front track width slightly.
https://www.ringpinion.com/b2c/productdetails.aspx?ProdID=9892&Brand=Yukon_Gear_and_Axle
https://www.amazon.com/YA-WU-02-Loc...u_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Dodge|40&Model=Ram 1500|2760&Year=2000
