ok so i couldnt stand it so i went home on lunch and started wiggling stuff and everything seems solid - didnt have time to raise the wheels off the ground so i couldnt check the bearings but i tried to move every piece i could including the two bars going into the cv boot - they didnt move at all except a small amount of play with an in and out motion dorectly towards the wheel - very small amount of movement (i got them to make a small clicking sound) and exactly the same on both sides - cv's the culprit? if one is bad then the other must be too could they both go at the same time? still gonna try to check the diff fluid and brakes later...