Burning smell and wheel burning hot

By your description it could either be cooked wheel bearings or a wheel seal that's failed and coated the disc, making it burn when you were on the brakes to turn into the truckstop.

Look on the back side of the wheel, is there oil spewed out everywhere?

Regardless, I would have the truck towed to a shop because if it is the bearings, you're risking fire, major damage to the hub/spindle and possibly loss of the wheel.

 

Hard to say, backside of that tire and rim look too clean to have been a wheel seal failure. Almost looks like it could be bearing failure and the resulting heat is what took out the wheel seal.

 

Simple test if its the wheel bearing, immediately after you've driven a few miles at high speeds, point a temp gun at the wheel hub and compare temp on the other steer wheel hub its its a good 20 ° f above the normal its more than likely the seal has gone and the bearing is starting to collapse.

 

I can see oil running down the inside of the rim which means the wheel seal is cooked
Would I drive it 2miles ??? IDK
I myself might Am I suggesting you do ... Iam only saying what I might do.. and my luck is not always good

 

Looks like the caliper leaking brake fluid,,,,HA, ,, just seeing if anyone actually reads my posts. There's only one place there's oil, and that's the bearing. The bearing may not be totally fried, and the oil leaking on the hot disc is causing the smell. A bad bearing, you'll feel it in the steering wheel, and eventually will sieze and lose the wheel. You are no where near that point, and good job catching it. I'd stay away from both places, and who knows who is tightening your steer axle bearings. I'd almost trust a dealer in that regard. Good job, driver!

 

Correction, ALL trucks are money pits. A wheel bearing is pretty simple, and a good decision to stay put. Hang in there, repairs are always the bane of the o/o, and why many simply can't afford to run, and go with a company job. I had my own from 1988 to 1993, and couldn't imagine doing it today. Look at it this way, at least you won't have to worry about the things you fixed. Remember, someone got rid of it BECAUSE it needed work. You simply inherited their problems. An old farmer friend told me once, if it isn't broke, you aren't using it. Best of luck, pal.

 

Hopefully they won’t charge you too much. Looks like the seal leaked, probably got hot, bearings might be damaged. Some places will try to make you replace a perfectly good spindle. Spindle May be discolored from burnt oil. They may see that as a heat damaged compromised spindle. The Truck stops especially might take it apart, and refuse to put it back together unless you buy a new $1600 spindle. You need new bearings, and seal. New bearings come with new races. TA often won’t change races in front hubs. That’s OK, get a new hub/bearing kit if needed. It’s not too much more expensive than bearings. Maybe $500. Saves on Labor anyways. Find parts yourself if possible. TA will add 30-60% to prices. Make sure they check the end play using a dial indicator. Very important, especially on your Truck. I once saw a TA refuse do a front bearing on Volvo. Their reason was past problems getting the final torque correct. Good Luck. With a new hub if needed, maybe it won’t be much. $1500.00?? New spindle? It’s going to get ugly. Unless it’s physically damaged, or the race is welded onto it, or new race spins on it. You shouldn’t need a new spindle. Unfortunately once it’s apart, your at their mercy. I’d rather find a decent Mobil Mechanic than be at the mercy of TA. You should emphasize these things with them. Those idiots will replace the whole front end if you let them.