Klaus, thank you for the response. In looking at the berings, I don't think this is the issue, but perhaps over time??? I checked the play top to bottom and left to right and it seems normal.

While doing some research on this it seems getting the axel assembly seperated from the transmission can ge a real pain sometimes. I noted a tool that looks like a pull hammer on one of the sights that said it was a real "time saver". This tool looked like a web span type tool to connect to different axel configurations (4 or 5 bolt configuration). What I couldn't tell was if it was like a steering wheel puller where you use the force from a bolt being turned down, or the force of a reverse hammer as in an axel puller for real wheel drive. Can anyone comment on how the tool is used?

Jerry
01 V70 T5a
105,000 miles