If you're wheel is spinning freely, I doubt that your bearings are bad. Make sure that the wheel has no play in it either. It should be very solid.

I've got some weird thing going on in my right front as well. I've got a weird knocking noise that happens for the first few feet of travel, and then goes away. Sometimes is accompanied by a noise, and some knocking over bumps. I've eliminated tie-rod end (play in wheel, knocking over bumps, loose steering) by having it replaced. Bearings are good.

Keep in mind that if you have a caliper piston that is just ever so sticking, it will cause some pulling. Also, if you have bad front bushings, it will also cause some pulling, along with some creaking and all sorts of other things.

If anyone has any idea about the noises I'm having, please let me know. My steering is tight, just had tie rod end replaced. Still having some weird knocking noises though at initial driving, then they go away. Anyway, hopes this helps.