Front drive shaft

[jayrod0]

When I am drive and get to about 40 MPH I hear some rattling occuring toward the front right side of my Scout Traveler. When under the truck, I have noticed that there is some play in the front drive shaft- that is I can push the shaft up and down about an 1/8 of an inch. I believe it is designed to slide back and forth as the front axle articulated but I am not sure how much movement up and down the front drive shaft should have. Could this be the source of the noise? How much play should the front drive shaft have?

[WRENCH MAN]

That's not realy UNacceptable for a front drive line, but it should be disengaged while driving down he road, and drive lines usualy produce a vibration be for any type of rattle, a Ujoint will squeek when its bad, usualy.