95 E320 Power Steering Pump Shaft End Play

[TomLatos]

95 E320 with 228 kmiles. Power Steering Pump has about 0.050" end play (able to move the drive pully towards and away from the pump body). There is no indication of bearing wear - pump shaft rotates true. Power Steering operation is ok on the car.

Power Steering fluid has a metalic smell that new fluid does not have.

Q? Are these the symptoms of a PS pump nearing end of life?

Thanks