02 steering slop in the steering wheel

[tgf]

My steering wheel would bind and catch randomly to the point that to turn I would have to lift and twist the wheel to make sure it wouldn't bind. With some help I replaced the upper and lower steering bearings and clock spring. I still had some play in the wheel (up and down moreso than side to side).
Friday the clock spring started making noise like its already broke, and the slop seems to be getting worse. Anyone have/had this issue? What did you do to fix it?

 

[JLDickmon]

tilt column?

Sounds like the retainer for the upper bearing is loose.
It takes breakaway bolts, so you need to get them from Ford.

 

[tgf]

Yes, tilt column

 

[tgf]

Fwiw, the column bearing seats were wore out. Had to replace the whole column. I wish I would have had time to do a write up on swapping automatic to standard trans parts while I had them apart