i have a chevy 1989 4x4 suburban that the rear end is making a noise and has...

[T F]

...play at the yoke.? while driving it sometimes make a clacking noise and when i hit the gas it does it and when i let off the gas you can hear it release with a rumbling sound like the gears are rubbing. its not ujoints cause i checked them but i have play and the yoke. can i fix that or do i have to replace my rear end. its a 10bolt 8 1/2 gear ring
i really think its the pinion gear cause of the play and the noise, a bad seal i would think to just leak, but i'm no expert of course.

 

[bandit_60]

you don,t have to change the whole rear end. drop the drive shaft and see if that big nut is tight on the pinion gear. if you have to change it then you can pull the axles and pull the pumpkin. then you can change the pinion gear.