Need some help with Drive Shaft area

Before I begin I would like to apologize for my lack of automotive knowledge, but I could really use some help. Recently I began hearing a rattle sound under my truck when starting it and in high RPMs. I believe the sound is my exhaust rattling up towards my catalytic converter, however when down there I also noticed the part connecting to the axle (not sure if driveshaft is the right term or not) seems like it may be separating at one point. It's greasy in that area. Any ways I will post a picture of it and hopefully someone can tell me what I'm looking at.

 

Yes grease everything very well until it falls out of the u joints

 

pump grease into the u joint zerks until you see new grease come out, pump grease into the slip joint zerk until you see the joint start to move, you don't want to overfill the slip joint from what i've been told

 

Provided his Cardons aren't shot to shit already...

 

OP incase you needed to know this since your automotive knowledge is stated as beginner.... You can purchase a grease gun for $10-$20 at an automotive store or even a Wallmart. And buy a tube of grease. The gun and grease tube look something like a painters calking gun like you might have used to apply crack sealant, etc.

Anyway, the grease gun has a short hose or pipe on the end with a fitting that just snaps onto the zerk fitting on your vehicle. It really just pops on. Then squeeze the pump handle a few times. Done. then it just pops back off with a little tug.

 

A must have tool, if you are going the keep the truck for a while, especially if you wheel it. You don't want that DS to fail when you are 20 miles from pavement.

 

I do own a grease gun, I'll get it all greased up down there. Thanks guys!

 

No such thing as to much lube. It's only just enough lube for the job

 

There absolutely is when it comes to slip joint. Just do two pumps and that's it, anymore and the driveshaft can hydrolock and blow out the back of your transfer case when you hit a curb.

 

That's why I said just enough for the job