Front end vibrating issue?

This is the Drive, AWD, and they usually have issues with the transfer case or front differential. This one had some transfer case codes and a lot of vibration that I feel at the front, no shaking or vibration in the steering. No shaking when applying brakes. It feels like a bad wheel that starts to vibrate around, and you just feel it get worse. One of the axles have play up and down where it goes in the font diff. Also, there is a creaking noise on that same side, seems like from the strut. Could a bad axle cause a strut to go bad or vice versa? I removed the shaft between the transfer case and the front differential, and a lot of the issues have gone away. But I still have some vibration at the front. I checked all the bushings, and they feel tight. When moving the front wheel with the axle play I feel play and its coming from the end of that axle going into the front differential. I can replace the axle, but I am afraid it's not the axle but rather the play is coming from inside the differential. I can also replace the strut but that may take care of the creaking noise but not the vibration.