Axel wheel bearings

Have the vehicle inspected at a second shop but don't taint their analysis by telling them what the first shop found. Let them find any problems on their own. Wheel bearings will get real noisy long before they get sloppy enough to feel by hand. If both front wheels were turning together and the engine was not running there is going to be excessive play in the steering gear allowing that to happen. If any other parts are worn you would have a lot of steering wander, especially at highway speeds.

GM does have a lot of trouble with front wheel bearings but they will cause a buzzing noise like an airplane engine when they're noisy, and on cars they commonly cause the anti-lock brake warning light to turn on.