2wd LJ for a while

[SHoppe715]

So there's been a mildly annoying "clacking" sound coming from my tcase since it was new. I always figured it was normal noisy Jeep driveline sounds. When it started getting worse I got worried. The noise happens in all ranges when load is shifted front and back like on and off the gas or on and off the clutch. Loudest in both 4 hi and lo but still there in 2. Long story short: When I couldn't figure out exactly where the noise was coming from by laying underneath and shaking parts I took the front driveshaft off and gave the front output a twist - found it. The output doesn't seem to have much slop in that the bearing is bad and in 2wd it turns smooth and quiet. However, in 4wd it will turn at least 5-10 degrees back and forth and I can hear that "clacking" sound plain as day.

Here we go with the warranty issues again except I have a while to wait 'cause Gene's can't see me until 16 May! According to Gene's, other shops can do warranty work if authorized by DC. According to GT, since there's a stealership in town DC will never authorize it ('cause they've tried). I know they'll try and say it was abused and not warranty it. As we all know, that's a load of crap. NP241 cases with less beefy internals are put under much heavier rigs with much more power and torque than anything I could ever inflict on it.

When I finally get it in there, what might I tell them to look for first?