CV axle problem

Looking for some advice. 14' 2.7l 4x4 has been humming on the freeway for a while now. I checked wheel bearings and ujoints, they seemed fine back in march. Just figured its my aging tires and let it go. About a week ago, I started feeling a vibration in the steering wheel along with an occasional clunk starting out. so I put the truck up and looked at the front end more. When I rotated the driver front tire, I could hear a clicking noise coming from the inner, cv joint. Passenger side is quiet. Truck only has 75k miles or so, and I had a lot of movement with the inner axle into the front diff, so I ordered the ecsg bushing to install that not even thinking about the axle. I just figured it was the needle bearing issue since there was so much movement in the differential itself. Well I pulled the axle and put it into my vice just to make sure. there is lateral play in the inner joint in all directions, I can hear the bearings click against the cup, which is worse in certain positions.

Not a huge deal, but was in a hurry and ran to napa to get a replacement axle for the time being. I know that's not the best solution, and I understand OEM is better, but it's the solution I am using because of cost at the moment. Well, I got the new axle and that has just as much lateral play in the inner joint and it also clicks in the same way as my old one when I mess with it on the bench. I can't imagine that will solve the problem if I was right about the axle being the noise problem.

I have never dealt with cv axles before, the older front ends I have worked on all use ujoints, so now I am not sure what is normal for that inner joint. I would have imagined that the inner joint shouldn't have lateral play in it, should it? It should move in and out, but not laterally. I tried playing with the passengers side axle while it's installed, and it doesn't move up/down, side/side if I hold the cup and press on the axle shaft. I wasn't sure if that tells me anything. I was planning on returning the new axle, but now am second guessing myself. Is it somewhat normal to have some lateral movement in the inner or is that new napa just complete garbage. Seems like I'd be better off just running my old shaft until I get an oem axle.

Was hoping someone would have some insight here or maybe just confirm or dispel my thought process.

 

All sounds normal.

Lateral play - Normal
Free play at the diff after ECGS install - Normal. (Has to have play for fluid to lubricate properly)
Testing the CV axle with the front suspension at full drop is not ideal. This puts the CV at max angles.
Jack the truck up under the control arm and check it. (spin wheel) This checks it at "ride height".

 

I should have mentioned, I was testing the play in the needle bearing initially with the truck on the ground. I've never heard the clicking before when doing maintenance, what would be the cause now? Just slight wear?