How To Replace your Lower Column Bearing: Better and Cheaper!!!
If you ever wondered why the factory engineers went with such a pissy excuse for a bearing there.... You would have to see the resistance produced by a failed roller bearing. If that roller bearing locks up, you will not turn the steering wheel.
Don't make the mistake of assuming the factory assembly was
only the result of engineering best practices. Cost plays a HUGE factor in what designs actually hit the assembly line. The factory engineers could have spec'd a nice roller bearing, been told it cost too much, and then relented to the bean counters that the crappy excuse for a bearing they actually installed would "work well enough" for the intended design lifespan. These cars were never designed to last more than 10 years.
There are plenty of other components that are MUCH more likely to fail that would have just as catastrophic result. Like a wheel bearing, for example.
I'm not sure why you think the roller bearing might lock up. The unsealed bicycle type bearing that was in my column was getting crunchy and tighter as it was failing. The roller I installed is sealed on both sides to keep the grease in, lightly pressed into the plastic collar and is a slip fit on the shaft not pressed on. It also rotates at a slow speed. Just curious and not trying to start a fight, LOL.
I don't see how the sealed insert bearing would ever fail under the conditions it's being used in. It's subjected to almost no force at all, turns slowly enough to never develop any heat, and is sealed from the elements. It will probably outlast most of the other components in the car.
But, if it did fail it might be strong enough to lock out the steering. Less so in the early cars like the one you did above because of the use of the plastic shell, but in the later cars were the insert bearing is lightly pressed right into the column jacket it would be hard to overcome that with just the steering wheel. The crappy little factory bearing just falls apart, even with just normal use. I've seen several that are missing at least a few of their balls. ;)
Even if it did fail, because of the low heat and stress conditions it wouldn't likely fail catastrophically, or suddenly while in use. If the seals failed and it got gummed up it would be noticeable long before the bearing stopped turning. Not like an overcooked wheel bearing which can have a catastrophic failure due to heat and stress.