there's a clicking coming from my front drive shaft at speeds of 10-20 mph can anyone tell me if its the u-joints or the whole drive shaft that i need to replace? also any help on the procedures of doing this would be greatly appreciated

which side is it from?

Look for torn CV boots.

I concur with BlazerLt, Cv boots tear and then its down hill from there.

Not unless you catch it early and refill the CV boot with new grease.

its not the cv joints the front drive shaft which goes to the front wheels it has like 1/4 play on the rear end side which has a cover over it do i need to replace the entire shaft

Maybe a bad U-joint of some sort.

The way the post is written, I assume that you are driving at this speed in 2WD. You say you found a 1/4" of play in the front driveshaft.

This sounds or appears as if you have a bad u-joint. However, it also appears that if you are driving and in 2WD that shaft should not be turning and you would not hear any noise. I would say that your front differential is also engaged.

You have more than one problem.