Are you certain its the front wheel/tire? Just last week, I had the exact same noise you described. Thought it was coming from the front too. After lifting the car and turning the all the wheels, it turned out the sound was coming from the rear- the pins holding the e-brake shoes on one side had disintegrated and vanished. The shoes were rubbing inside the drum. Easy fix. A bad bearing doesn't make that sound.

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1969 220D "Berta" RIP
1982 300D turbo 250K