Help. Rear end play and ticking sound

[mr2m1]

I recently installed about a 4 inch lift. Now I am having the following problems:
1. I hear a ticking noise from the rear when I am driving.
2. When the vehicle is off the ground and I rotate the tire from left to right, there is about 3/4" of play.

Are these problems caused from the lift?
Should I have added correction shims for the rear to align the driveline?
I have attached a pic to show the angle of the driveshaft while the vehicle is on the ground.
Although it doesnt look like it from this pic, it is at a slight angle.

 

[CruisinMT]

check you u joints by pushing up and down and side to side. If you're getting a vibration as well i would say u joints. just my .02 cents

 

[antFJ]

i had a ticking coming from the rear of my s10.. i thought it was my u-joints too.. replaced them and still had the ticking. Took the rear diff cover off and out fell the ring and pinion teeth... take the back cover off and check for damage in your diff - that would be my guess if its not the u-joints.

 

[BBQ BOY]

Check your rear differential.

 

[mr2m1]

Rear End Noise

Thanks for the info everyone.
I grabbed the driveline and gave it a twist. There was no play in it.
So, next I will take will off the rear axle cover and check the diff.
Am I looking for broken pieces or loose gears? I know my way around a motor but havent explored axles.

 

[kyot4x4]

it sounds like it is in the spider or side gears if the pinion has no play just open it up and look.

kyle

 

[lcwizard]

TICKING SOUND.. it's a bomb!.... seriously, you shouldn't need correction shims in the rear. The theory of a non- double cardon drivestaft is that the pinion shaft is parrallel to the transfer output shaft. Unless you swap to a double cardon at the transfer you don't want to line up the pinion to the trans.
A ticking could be something as simple as the pinion dust shield contacting the third member as it rotates. If you've got disc brakes a warped rotor will contact the pads with every rotation, causing a ticking. Check the easy stuff first. Nothing worse than taking the rear end apart only to find some kid stuck playing cards in your spokes