testing hub bearing (Cavalier)

My '99 Cavalier (50K miles) failed its NYS safety inspection, for a
"bad hub bearing". So, I tested this the way I used to test wheel bearings: jack it up, and feel for play in the wheel. I don't find any. There is what looks like a bad tie-rod, on the other side. This gives some play in the alleged bad wheel, but you can see the movement all the way back to the steering wheel.

Anyway, is there some magical way of testing hub bearings that I'm missing?

All of them I have seen have been making noise. Would the bearing have slack without making noise? Dunno-hope someone can answer that.
Respectfully submitted,

Loren Knighton
Woodland, CA.

Under the hood since 1964
Member TRNI IATN http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/trans_atf.html
http://www.longmfg.com/web/longwebframework.nsf/home/ web.trucool

In my experience saftey inspectors regularly misdiagnose excessive play problems. Probably he just felt the wheel like you did but without looking at the steering linkages and guessed it might be the bearings. Though I don't know why the other side wasn't picked up also.

I've had a loose steering rack and a loose bearing together being reported as two loose tie rod ends. Another car was claimed to have a loose lower ball joint, I replaced the wheel bearings instead and it passed the check OK.

As long as they find something loose it's not worth their time narrowing it down accurately.

sound like to someone looking for work or to rip someone off.wheel bearing are going to be loose with car jack up.the transaxle shafts when they hang down are actually shorter. when you let the car down wheel level out straigh they go long wheel bearing tighten. i was from new york and got wise to their inspectors they are not truthful.money hungery,what i do is i tell the inspector before he looks at my car if you fail this car they will not get it for repair i will taken to another mechanic beleive or not it works. all of sudden car does not have a problem i have driven 3or 4 gm car front wheel drive over 200000 miles never had a bad wheel bearing.my oldsmobile delta 88 has 209556 mile and just passed third inspection since i own the car no problem.inspection stations in new york city are theives.how ever if you feel better by changeing them i feel for for simple reason now you in whats wrong whats not.take to another place tell them if you reject this car they will not get the repair see what happens