When i drive it out i get a really bad grinding clanking noise that sounds like its comeing from near the front diff

I thought it was the exhaust got bent an was hitting the drive shaft from me bottoming out somewhere, but i checked that out an the shaft is spinning freely

any ideas as to what it could be ?

its a 1998

u did this post almost a year ago but if the problem is still occuring, i had the same thing on my 99 mountaineer. it turned out to be a bad bearing in the front diff and i had it replaced.

cv drive shaft or bearing. It is hard to tell unless you actually lookm at this one. you can try to repack the bearing if it is not sealed or crack it open and look at the bearing. it is one or the other

Gravedigger15, good memory. it is almost scary that you remember this from a year ago. Anyway, keep up the good work and welcome to the forum.