02 Z71, front axle clicking, bad output shaft on Diff

[limacina]

I had a click, click,click under my truck that changed frequency as I speed up. Easiest to hear at low speed for obvious reasons.
I finally got under there to look for it, figuring it was a rear drive shaft u-joint; but those look good. Checked FWD CV joints, both good, but I think I found the problem.
The output shaft on the front differential is sloppy (ie, moves up and down and side to side) and is showing signs of a leak.
Oh, the truck is a 2002 sierra 1500, Z71 with 111k miles on it.
So has anyone dealt with the front diff? I'm guessing a bad shaft bearing.

[99Sierra2]

Did you ever find out what was causing the clicking? Mine just started to do the same thing, also climbed under there to discover output shaft has some play in it! Like you was hoping it was U-joints!

[limacina]

I got out my chiltons manual and spent a little more time under the truck and it looks like I have a bad output shaft bearingon the differential housing.
It looks easy enough to fix, I'll admit, I've been driving with it due to my personal time constraints.