Haha i know what you mean about the bugs..they are bad....but One my truck i have been through 4 rear endes all broken limited slips. 2factory and 2 Aubruns. I play a little hard..haha...but when the factory went out i do remeber the carrier bearings makeing a little noise you are right.

 

when the bearings went out in my truck they made a sort of whining air noise that got worse the faster i went. when the u joints were bad, the truck didnt make any sounds but shook like a sob from a stand still through 10 mph. could be the ring and pinion are out of alignment and just need to be shimmed.