Picked this up searching around for similar problem on my s40.

http://repairpal.com/hard-start-due-to- ... ulator-053

For these kinds of play issues, I like to put one wheel up in the air at a time with a jack and stand beneath it. I move the wheel holding in the 3 oclock and 9 oclock positions. Then, I look at all the components to see where the play actually is. Sometimes, it works out to being the power steering...