I know it's been a while- but I think I figured it out when replacing brakes.

(and I never saw the posts about U-joints- but I'm sure THAT is the clicking I hear, so thanks for that info.)

I started getting a little leak at the wheel- which I was thinking might be a brakeline leak....
was wrong- it's coming out the end of the axel on the driver's side. so I've got a bad seal, as well.
It appears that will make the barking sound (while the pwr strng was low- filling it did not cure the issue.)

So I've got a good Saturday of seal replacement in my future.... thanks for the info!

 

Either side is no fun, but, you know you have to remove the diff assembly to do the left side ?