Sweet looking case. I just took mine apart and the front output gear has movement on the shaft against the c-clip. The roller bearing was able to be removed by hand after the snap ring was removed. So it also moves in and out when buttoned up.
The needle caged bearing in the case has a loose relationship with the aft end of said shaft.
So all that added up is telling me get a rebuild kit.
Dang, I only got 625,000 miles out of it. But I think my transmission is ailing due to the whirring noise in gear but not park or neutral or when the TCC is on at speed. weird