i have looked around but not had much luck, i have a new popping or kid of a flopping sound coming from my driver front wheel area. not just when i turn. its all the time. if i drive slow it kind of sounds like something is flopping inside the knuckle. any help before something gets worse.

done any off roading lately and floored it turning a turn?
sounds like you grenaded a birf. the birfield has 5 or 6 large balls in a cage that act as a CV or u joint in the front axle. stock birfs last ok in stock form but can crack under stress of wheeling when bound up, especially with front lockers..

this stuff might help you out:
Rebuilding Front Straight Axle:
http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/tech/axle/
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...eRebuild.shtml
http://www.lukemiller.org/toys/1985_...t_axle_FSM.pdf

i figured it out and feel like an idiot, i was worried about the worst and did not think of the easiest. it was loose lug nuts. feel like an idiot but i learned something about aluminum rims though, sorry about wasted thread but thanks for the great exploded diagram.