Pinion Slop

I noticed my rear Dana 44 had some slop in the pinion. It isn't side to side or up and down but in and out. The pinion nut is tight...crush sleeve issue? I noticed this when I was messing with the drum brakes, and when I turn the drum back and forth, engaging the different sides of the ring gear, the pinion moves in and out a little less than an 1/8". Thoughts? I have a spare 8.25 with the right gears if I need to swap this out and repair it.

It is an 88 XJ D44 and it has a lockright lunchbox locker. I put in a different carrier and checked the gears and backlash which were good.