i just had one of mine fail on my spprt a month or so ago! mine just went and seized. The movement side to side when in place is normal.
They have an inner and outer CV's not universals i beleive.
It's a bit of bitch to remove, first thing would be to check your rubber boots surrounding the joints to see if they have split as this can cause them to wear quickly.
U can remove them with out taking out the diff. But you will have to lower the back box, just undo the 2 straps which hold the silencer.
They don't fail often as i'm the only person i know who has suffered this, or so i thought! Your better of finding a complete half shaft form a breaker car, i paid Ԛ£30. They should move free and feel subtle. It's is a bolt in out job
Here's a pic of one complete HTH you guys
