Diagnosis please !

I have had the front prop shaft off before and it clunks and fells like heaps of backlash but, i thought that was normal in an awd with one shaft off ?

Got back under the d2 today and disconected the rear swaybar to see if there was any pl,aty in the ace ram bushes . Nope , nice and tight. I did however notice that there is a small amount of play up and down on the trasfer case front output sahft .
Could that be the cause ?

If the shockies do not have smooth resistance feel to them as you compress them or as they extend they could be the source of your clunking. Coils will be very clunky on rebound if the shock is anyways suspect, much more so than a leaf spring is. The fact you said they felt like 'air' in them with zero resistance for a couple of inchs most likely means they are shot.
Cheers Scott

Thanks Scott , yeah i am sure the shockies are knackered . They are not that old really but i guess i have to look at getting new ones again.

Out of interest how old are the Bilstien's? They generally have a reputation for longevity. But of course off road work, (and some on road with the state some roads are in! ) will see any shock die eventually.
The up and down movement on the output shafts will be more of an oil seal leak hazard than a noise source.
Cheers Scott

How about the rear tail shaft rubber coupling? Will Definately clunk when worn and on both accel/decel.

Check watts linkage bushes, worn ones make a bit of a "clunk"
Stu

Thanks guys. The watts bushes will be checked next. I have a good spare linkage so hope it is that easy. The shocks have done about 25 thousand km ,i think I might have damaged them when I blew an airbag and needed to keep driving. I haven't checked the front shocks yet but it is a bit strange that both the rear feel dodgy. The rubber coupling is good, pretty new and I did the inside bush as well.

Today i pulled out the watts linkage , well tried to . The main bolt that runs through the middle and through the top of the diff housing is bent like a banana ! It was getting dark and i already whacked my hand with a gimpie trying to drive it out so thought i would call it quits and try again in the morning . Also i found that there was a small amount of play in one of the swivel bushes . Maybe i have found the cause of all that noise in the rear .