I have a 96 GC Laredo with a 5.2V8 I have a strange clicking noise coming from the front axel. I lifted the back end so it would spin freely and the front shaft started to spin and it was clicking, its not the half shafts. Im curious if its the bearing or the gears may be clicking I'm wondering if anyone has ever had this problem before? Also my trans slips if I accel to hard going in and out of 1st gear it happens in no other gear not even in kick down. Trans shops want to charge 2 grand for a rebuilt and then labor to replace it I have changed filter and fluid, any ideas? And last but not least I want to change my trans case over so I can lift my jeep and I have heard there is a specific swap so it is not a lipper anymore I cannot remember what style or model it is?

 

It sounds like a CV joint in either the axle joints or the drive-shaft clicking like that.
I had a shop replace the CV type shaft in my '97 ZJ with one that a grease-able slip-joint and regular u-joints. They had to replace the pinion coupler on the front axle with a yoke for the u-joint.
I had a new trans installed at the dealer w/a 3 year-36K warranty in my '97 when it was acting up. It cost $2,100 complete.
Dan

 

Could it be the front axels when I raised the rear end and only the front shaft was spinning? Im not very familiar with Jeeps or front ends I have been a performance and engine tech for about 10 years so I can make things fast.