axle shaft issue

[Joe_Roofer]

So I Just took the Ranger to the store and thought she sounded a little loud, crawled underneath and found this... The pass shaft is rubbing on the window in the beam. Everything feels fine, and the sound isn't very bad at all, thought I was just imagining things.
Granted I've been beating the hell out of her every weekend, have had some hard front end hits.
What do you all think I should do about it?
Maybe just open up that window a little?

 

[4x4junkie]

It shouldn't be rubbing there if driving normally on the street.

But yes, do open that thing up, and do it right away, too.
The shaft binding there can cause all sorts of breakage on that shaft when flexing it out offroad (u-joints, stretching of the yokes, and possibly even busting the pig if it's bound up hard enough).

(Looks like it's been widened some already)

Also, check the large radius arm bolts where they protrude into the beam. I've seen the shaft rub on those also with enough flex (trim them shorter if needed).

 

[Joe_Roofer]

Will do, thanks for the input.
I just did the u-joint on this shaft and it wasn't rubbing then (like a month ago).
These shafts do spin in 2WD, right?

 

[4x4junkie]

Only if the hubs are locked in.

 

[Sunk]

No, the shafts shouldn't spin in 2wd.