CGT axle shaft play/noise??

[only5kgt@uswest.net]

Hello Audinauts,
The last few days driving the newly acquired Coupe, I began
to get annoyed with a rattle in the vicinity of the driver's
side front wheel. The clatter suggested the stone shield
being loose on the brake assembly, it was very audible at
certain speeds, quiet at both low (under 20) and high (over
60) speeds. So, I pulled the wheel today to have a look.
All tight. Well, nearly. Nothing in the suspension or
caliper mounting seems loose at all. The brake pads, I
noticed, were not under tension by those little springs
mounted at their tops. Since the noise goes away under
braking (strange) are the pads just rattling in the caliper?

Or, is the subject heading to blame? When I was prodding
around down there, I thought I'd take a look at the CVs.
There had been none of the typical noises from them, and the
boots were fine, though. What's this? The shaft moves in and
out relative to the transaxle case! Noticeable play, in and
out, the shaft is solidly attached both at the hub and to
the drive flange. The flange is what's moving. Geez!
So... is this whole diff hosed? What gives here (and how
much,  both in terms of acceptable wear, and repair costs)
Or is this just a quirk of the shaft design and I've never
tried to push one that way before? I can live with it being
worn-and-don't-launch-like-Sprongl condition- the car drives
*fine* with no indication (noise or vibration) of anything
strange in this department. I wouldn't have bought it
otherwise. Is this something new to get paranoid about- or
is it just the brake pads ill-fitting, and a 125k  gearbox
"running in"?

Cringing,
Rob
1985 Coupe GT