UPDATED: D30 with lots of play in the driveline.... Can you diagnose?
 

Crawled under the JK to do a trans service and found this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSoyfibIsjA
Possible contributing factors:

Last month I replaced the front axle u-joints and changed the fluid with Royal Purple synthetic. Also, I abused the Jeep pretty hard last weekend at the sand dunes and while there, I noticed the axle fluid leaking out of the pinion seal (?) after trying to blast up some steep sand hills.

The u-joints on the driveshaft are solid with no play. It looks like the issue is inside the pumpkin. I dont know what to do at this point.... any advice would be helpful.

:beer:

UPDATE 8/28/2011:
Pulled the driveshaft and axles and I am running an empty housing (carrier still in) for now. Also, I am accepting donations for a PR44.

Not good buddy!

You need to take it in ASAP . My guess is you lost a bearing. There should be no in and out movement at all.

David

I agree with David get it in before it grenades on you

If I pull the DS and axles will I be able to run in 2wd with no problems?

wow
 

pull your driveshaft you will be able to get a better idea if you smoked a bearing or you might just have a loose pinion nut. which could have caused a bearing failure either way thats not good

No problems at all. Ran mine completely gutted for several months while waiting for a new axle to come in.