FWIW, My ATX tour had similar noises and some vibration felt through the steering. After replacing one wheel bearing and starting on the second one (DS) I discovered that the inner CV joint was worn. Once the steering knuckle is off (like for wheel bearings) the axle is not hard to replace and is under $100 @ Napa. These front end noises can be hard to pin down, so getting a second opinion would probably be a good idea, especially before doing any tranny work. If you have papers to show that you brought this exact problem to the dealer and that they did not fix it while under warranty, you *may* be able to get some compensation, but you'll need to negotiate carefully.
