Front axles on 1986 TDI300 - Some end float, not sure if normal?

Hi, Just took the front end axle circlips (1 each side) off, with the intent to repack bearings and tighten large nut due to a small amount of movement detected.
Found I don't know what I did with my big socket last time I did it about 10 years ago, so no go on that one. But I did notice that the axles had some end float.

The passenger side axle has no end float with the circlip fitted but end float is about 4mm with the circlip removed i.e. I can slide the axle in and out by about 4mm. Is this normal?

The driver side axle has about 2mm end float with the circlip fitted but end float is about 3mm with the circlip removed i.e. I can slide the axle in and out by about 3mm. I can see that I need some shims to go behind the circlip to take out the end float. Is this normal sort of wear expected? Dimensions eyeballed.

Yes normal, shims are the answer, one of them things that near enough really is good enough.