little help please

Personally, I always have the box coupling properly assembled before the column goes into the car.
There is a tiny pin ( about 1/16 dia and 1/8 long ) right at the rim of the box, that is supposed to keep the coupling guts inside the box. It aint much but does keep it together.
That wire formed clamp that retains the box top ( aftermarket creation ) would serve the same purpose and/or provide additional insurance.