One of the understated but most important things here is how you fit a new/another steering column.

You must loosen the four nuts clamping the steering rack to the floor. The steering column then must slide down onto the rack pinion with little or no resistance. You never need force or banging to get it on. That will only damage the splines.

Properly have the column in the right orientation so the position allows for the indicators to cancel when turning left or right. Some column have an indicator mark for dead centre.

If there is resistance, then the angle is wrong, or the splines are damaged or misaligned. Start again and get it right.

One the column is sitting neatly - nip up the locating bolt that holds it onto the spline, locate and tighten the column onto the dash and then retighten the rack nuts on the floor. Refit steering wheel and accessories.

Mike