Steering column rattling

Check under the dash for worn universal joints in the steering shaft. Other than that, a steering column is not something you want to take apart. Even with the factory service manual it's a complicated affair requiring special tools, and many parts are not available.

Yup, but one thing to watch for is to get one with the steering column still connected to the rack and pinion assembly so you know no one has been spinning the steering wheel. Turn the tires straight ahead, or count the revolutions of the steering wheel from full left to full right, then turn it back exactly half way, lock the column with the key, THEN remove it from the car. When you install it into your car, be sure the tires are again straight ahead when you connect the shaft to wherever you disconnected it. There is a wound-up ribbon cable in a plastic housing right under the steering wheel. That is the "clock spring" that makes a solid electrical connection to the air bag. If you turn the steering wheel one complete revolution, then install it, turning to full lock one way or the other will either cause that ribbon cable to become wound too tightly and it will snap, or it will unwind too much, fold over on itself, and crack after doing that numerous times. Most clock springs can only tolerate turning about an additional half a turn beyond what the steering system allows.

It might be smart to lock your old column in the centered position too before you remove it. That way your old clock spring can be used if a replacement is ever needed, and you'll know it is centered.

Dandy. Should be no clock spring to worry about.

I can't imagine anything related to the steering shaft itself causing a rattle in the column. I'd expect to find a rod from the ignition cylinder to the switch or something like that, but holler back when you find the cause. Also, if it has tilt wheel, there are two large pins it pivots on and those can break, but then you'd notice the wheel can be lifted up and down without it actually tilting.

If you have tilt wheel, there will typically be two curved metal fingers attached to the upper shaft, two identical fingers welded to the lower shaft, and a nylon insert in between them. All those pieces together look like a ball but it allows the fingers to swivel as the steering shaft turns and the steering wheel is raised up and down. Perhaps that nylon insert cracked. I would think you would feel that when you rotated the steering wheel rapidly back and forth.

I'll be waiting to hear what you find.

I'd head to a pick-your-own-parts salvage yard, (do a search for "Pull-A-Part" to see if there's one near you. Very clean and well-organized). You'll pay around $35.00 for a column or you can take one apart there and experiment on it. You can also remove bearings or any other parts you need. Anti-lock wheel speed tone rings are never sold separately but I got three of them for my "95 Grand Caravan, along with a small box full of other treasures for 5 bucks.