Steering couple not reaching

I Tapped the column on a concrete floor to shear the nylon pins. Now it fits anything! Mine was too long. As far as I'm concerned those nylon pins are nothing more than assembly line aids. It may not be true, but I drive with my seat way back, and my seat-back leaned over even backer, so if all it takes to kill me in a collision is that extra inch of D-shaft, so be it.That was 1998.