I recently had inner and outer tie rods replace and had new bushings?

Ball joints on Blazers are a real common problem and often need to be replaced every two or three years. Control arm bushings are also common. The steering and suspension systems should be inspected at a tire and alignment shop. They will also look at anti-sway bar links and bushings. These clues aren't exclusive but in general a sloppy ball joint will knock once when turning and again when straightening out. Control arm bushings tend to rattle continuously on bumpy roads.

Wheel bearings like yours commonly become noisy but they make a buzzing noise like an airplane engine. To cause a thumping sound they would have to be noisy for so long first that most people can't put up with the irritating buzzing for that many years. They would also cause other braking and handling symptoms.

Everybody assumes they are going to get ripped off when they take their car for service. One problem is most owners know very little about the machines they trust to get them back home. The second problem is mechanics speak an entirely different language than car owners, and third, we hold mechanics to much higher standards than doctors.

You might consider looking for an "Automotive Fundamentals for Consumers" night class at a community college. You won't learn how to fix your car, but you will learn how to know when a problem is serious and how to understand the explanations you're given regarding those problems and their solutions. You'll also know how to even ask the right questions. Service advisers greatly prefer to have conversations with people who know what's going on or at least understand the problem with their car. A person in any profession finds it difficult working with customers who know little about what's going on, and they will become uneasy knowing the customer suspects them of being dishonest. Most women know a bunch about hair and makeup. Imagine how a guy would feel if he had to discuss this topic with his wife's hairdresser. Imagine how comfortable the hairdresser would feel.

Blazer owners described and he noticed those vehicles were solved with new ball joints. Instead of typing on the repair order, "locate thumping noise", he typed "check for noisy ball joints". Good service advisers are trained to not start the diagnosis process because that can cause the mechanic to concentrate on the wrong thing. No dishonesty was intended but it's easy to see how the process of solving the complaint can get derailed.

I've been a suspension and alignment mechanic since 1984 and I know what failed parts make which sounds, but as an instructor I learned real quick to be amazed at what my students find when they inspect cars. I know to never say, "no, it can't be that because, ... " until I see it for myself. There's way too many times I would have been wrong. We have the same problem when trying to diagnose your car over a computer. The best I can do is give you the more common things and the clues in identifying them. We know you aren't going to roll up your sleeves and start fixing it yourself. My goal is to make you a more-educated consumer. No one expects you to know every part on your truck and how they work. Instead, if you know the right questions to ask, and understand why they do some of the things they do, it will be easier for everyone to get the problem solved to your satisfaction. For example, when are used or "remanufactured" parts okay to put on your vehicle? Why is your 20-dollar part better than the same part for 15 dollars at your competitor's shop? What happens if I pay the amount on this estimate and the problem is still there? Do you have mechanics who specialize in this type of problem?