Front hubs can cause this type of noise as well and they are easy and cheap to replace.
Personally I would pull the suspected shaft and if nothing obvious I would regrease it and refit. Avoid aftermarket shafts unless you can afford RCV's at $2,295.95usd.
https://www.rcvperformance.com/axles...-axle-set.html
And check the T/C CV for a split boot.
Last of all I would check the front diff bushes, when they fail the diff moves around and causes all sorts of knocks and grinds.