Love the pics of the column. I need to work on mine. The steering wheel moves about a quarter inch in and out, plus my gear indicator is hiding or missing! Lol. Do have pics on how the indicator is attached? Loving the detail!
Sounds like the upper bearing is toast or one of the snap rings is not installed.
I did not take one but it is easy. There is a screw hole in the rear casting on the top. There is nothing but a plastic arm that screws to it and has a 90 degree bend that goes up into the indicator. It is all visible and removable by simply by looking at the top of the column. It would take no more than 30 seconds to R&R it in the car.