Update. I think everything is fine. I put everything back together including the wheels. While it was still on jackstands, I tried rocking the wheel from 12-6 o'clock and 3-9 o'clock. No slop. I could still sense very slight clicking when spinning the wheel. I lowered the car on its wheels and drove away. I could hear nothing odd at all. Took cornering just fine. Drove into a few culdesacs and turned the wheel full right and full left. Again, no suspicious sounds.
I'm now wondering if the clicking I heard/felt was indeed gear meshing in the differential. I don't have limited slip, so when I spin one wheel by hand, the other spins in the opposite direction. I did try spinning the wheel while both in park and neutral and got the same clicking in both cases. It perplexes me why I can spin the wheel while in park. It may be that if I had a partner to spin the other wheel in the same direction while in park, then it would lock. I have verified that with both wheels on the ground, park does indeed prevent the car from rolling.
BTW, although I've been referring to this as clicking, I don't think this is a bad CV joint. I can't imagine getting 6-7 clicks in 1/4 turn of the wheel, and the "clicks/detents" are really subtle.
Just thought I'd let folks know the outcome in case anyone finds this info useful in the future.
I'm now wondering if the clicking I heard/felt was indeed gear meshing in the differential. I don't have limited slip, so when I spin one wheel by hand, the other spins in the opposite direction. I did try spinning the wheel while both in park and neutral and got the same clicking in both cases. It perplexes me why I can spin the wheel while in park. It may be that if I had a partner to spin the other wheel in the same direction while in park, then it would lock. I have verified that with both wheels on the ground, park does indeed prevent the car from rolling.
BTW, although I've been referring to this as clicking, I don't think this is a bad CV joint. I can't imagine getting 6-7 clicks in 1/4 turn of the wheel, and the "clicks/detents" are really subtle.
Just thought I'd let folks know the outcome in case anyone finds this info useful in the future.
