Ok, so I have a 2005 model 4x4 that was having this popping noise in the front end whenever i would come to a stop and then go to accelerate again. The dealership took the drive shaft apart and found metal flaking- they recommended replacing the drive shaft , but being broke as i am, i just had them clean the flaking and put a tube of grease in there. I drove it around a bit this afternoon and let that grease work in there and it seems to have solved my problem,-- but i'm not sure how long this will last. Is it really necessary to replace the entire drive shaft or can i just have them replace a faulty component of the drive shaft- or does it work that way at all?

 

I would get a second opinion on that. I had one a while back, and if it is the sound that I am thinking of. It was coming from the pinion gear in the diff.

 

Drive shafts are balanced and they should be replaced as a whole unit, u-joints are a different story , you can replace the joint and not cause balencing issues although the yokes shoule stay whith the banenced shaft. I agree with SpawnsFate check the pinion gear. I rebuild a lot of them even though it is only a 2005.