86runner with 150k

I'm looking to fix my front end rattle. Disticntly present when i hit any sort of bump, and from both front tires.. upon inspection, both of the front axles seem loose where they enter the front wheels. I can grab these and shake them around a bit, and this seems to reproduce the rattle which I hear anytime i go over a bump.

I've read all I could find here on the site. The ball joints seem to be fine. There is some minimal, but noticable play in the drivers front tire which I discovered when checking the ball joints. This seems to be the bearing, so I'm replacing that for sure, probably both sides while I'm at it.

What's up with those axles? Could a bad bearing cause the axles to be loose like that?

[NOTE: FYI 4wd does not work for some reason. (acording to prior owner, who I love, since he GAVE me the truck last fall..), The shifter has always been in what appears to be L4, and I've been reluctant to move it, for fear of further damaging something else!]



Thanks.