My '90 Loyale wagon, w/pushbutton 4wd 5-speed, ran out the driver side front axle last year, I replaced it just before the rain started, I never got to install the right side axle, though I have a new NAPA one in a box, ready to go.

 

During the winter, the R side axle started making noise, I didn't worry too much about it, since all I needed was a few days of clear weather to install a new one. As winter went by, the noise became louder, so today, after the snow melted off the car, I pulled the spare tire and grabbed and shook the axle, to see which joint was bad. To my surprise, the whole axle moved, it seems the transmission stub shaft is moving in the transmission housing, both up and down, 'bout 1/8", and in and out a like amount.

 

Any body else seen this? I can't find a blow-up diagram of that box to see what the problem might be, Soob says replace the gearbox..

 

376,000 miles, and counting..

The stub itself should not move much. The axle, however, will sometimes have a small amount of play like what you are describing. Or my front two did, anyway, and searching the forum others have mentioned it as well. Get the axle off and double check, but I would guess it's play in the axle DOJ cup and not the stub.

The stub shafts are often loose but it won't cause problems. The differential and gears are supported on bearings, the shafts are only held by the carrier of the diff. A lot of people panic when they do the wiggle check like you did thinking the transmission is about to grenade, but it won't. How much gear oil is leaking around the stub shafts? If it isn't wet, it isn't a concern.

 

A clicking on turns that gets more frequent over time is almost always the CV joints going down.

The stub shafts are often loose but it won't cause problems. The differential and gears are supported on bearings, the shafts are only held by the carrier of the diff. A lot of people panic when they do the wiggle check like you did thinking the transmission is about to grenade, but it won't. How much gear oil is leaking around the stub shafts? If it isn't wet, it isn't a concern.

 

A clicking on turns that gets more frequent over time is almost always the CV joints going down.

 

This tranny has a front seal leak, I keep an eye on the fluid level, and was/am puzzled by the lack of leakage around the loose stub shaft, have been speculating on some kind of separate oiling there..

 

Hmm.. at least I thought it was a front seal leak.. most of the time, when I shut it off, there is a cloud of gear oil smoke and stink, but in the last year, hasn't needed any gear oil added..

Commen to be loose on splines i put a oring between the cv and the trans to slow down the loosenes.