Sounds like a great time to upgrade to disc, you can probably find the whole front disc setup cheaper than aftermarket spindles that just keep your drum brakes. Just MHO.
Wholeheartedly agree. 9" drums are marginal at best.
I'm still wondering how the bearing journal surfaces could be worn. That's not supposed to be a wear item, is it? Unless one of the bearings seized at one point, such that it dragged the entire race round and round with it? I'll bet that made an awful noise...