steering wheel won't lock, and sounds like it's loose
Like I stated initially, the shaft is collapsed. No fixing that, it's junk. I mean, it will steer the car but without the shear pins intact, the shaft will not have the correct impact absorption in case of a frontal crash. Just be aware that a hard enough crash and you could potentially get speared with the shaft since now there's nothing to stop it from becoming a projectile, right? I'm no engineer so I have to trust the guys who designed this stupid crap had our best interest in mind.
I've read driving around with a collapsed shaft can wear the coupler shoes out fast because the lower shaft will want to move farther down into the coupler but I have no way to corroborate that. Not trying to be officer goody two-shoes here or scare you, just stating facts, ma'am.
If it were me, I'd try to replace the shaft with a good one or at least put something back in there to keep it from moving, like epoxy or small nylon pins. If you can keep it stationary, the lock collar and spring will work properly, provided you line up the two column halves to where they were originally.
So I guess this is the part where the guy with the saggy pants bent under the column turns and says 'this is your problem right here'.
I really have no intention of taking out the whole lower shafts and couplers, working around the headers, and fixing this somehow with nylon screws or whatever. It is going to have to go back together like it is. I took out the spring and arm that lock the wheel. At least I know it won't lock on me while I'm driving.
Like I stated initially, the shaft is collapsed. No fixing that, it's junk. I mean, it will steer the car but without the shear pins intact, the shaft will not have the correct impact absorption in case of a frontal crash. Just be aware that a hard enough crash and you could potentially get speared with the shaft since now there's nothing to stop it from becoming a projectile, right? I'm no engineer so I have to trust the guys who designed this stupid crap had our best interest in mind.
I've read driving around with a collapsed shaft can wear the coupler shoes out fast because the lower shaft will want to move farther down into the coupler but I have no way to corroborate that. Not trying to be officer goody two-shoes here or scare you, just stating facts, ma'am.
If it were me, I'd try to replace the shaft with a good one or at least put something back in there to keep it from moving, like epoxy or small nylon pins. If you can keep it stationary, the lock collar and spring will work properly, provided you line up the two column halves to where they were originally.