Steering column design

This in regard to a '73 Plymouth Duster.

I loosened the steering column to get better access to the dash panel while replacing a speedo cable. On re-assy, I have some rub/interference between the column, specifically the lock ring, and the U-shaped cover that fits around the bottom of the column. Not a huge problem, just irritating.

Is the '73 column a collapsing/safety type design? The bolts that hold the column are spaced with some strange split nylon spacers/bushings. Not something that you are going to tighten with much OOoomph, and I didn't do that. The bolts fit into slots, maybe just to make the column easier to remove, maybe to allow movement in a crash scenario.

What is the purpose of the split nylon spacers? Can they be replaced with a simple nylon washer that has a slot cut into it?

The clearance issue I think can be resolved by changing the spacing, but I don't want to defeat some other safety design issue. This car lost all its number matching value decades ago, so that is not the issue. Just seems to reasonable to put it together reasonably right.

Thanks!