If you put it back in your car, why would you need to pin it?
Both of the other ends are attached to fixed points, where is it going to go? "¯\_(ツ)_/¯"
There is a fsm measurement as to how far the shaft goes down into the coupler. It is adjusted by the fore and aft slots in the column bracket. If they are left loose, the box end portion of the shaft could bottom out in the coupler.
