01' X5 3.0i Weird Rear Diff Axle Shaft Problem PICS INSIDE
 

Well I was doing some recent service on my X and noticed a very abnormal problem. The rear drivers side axle shaft is pushed out of the differential about 1/2" as you can see from the pictures. Did my C-Clips go bad or is there any easy fix for this problem. I don't want to really drive it like this til I figure out what the heck is going on.

Post up if you have insight or have dealt with this problem.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...107_143536.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...107_143531.jpg

The stub axles pop out with very little resistance by design. May just need to be popped back in, but there should not have been enough clearance with the axle in place for it to get out that far. Rear suspension work in the car's past history may be the culprit, maybe someone going overboard during an upper control arm replacement?