What I found in my car were not nylon or metal bushings but horsehair bushings, or Yute ? the nylon bushings squeak since day one.

 

Hemp and flax have been used for gland packing. One of them might well have been used in this application. Impregnated with a suitable lubricant, such as the one Glyn mentioned earlier, they might be a nice solution for lateral support of the column.

 

For the plastic bushes you need to use the right grease. = Molykote™ PG 54 Plastislip Grease. (Now owned by Dupont)


For the felt bushes grease them but they don't impregnate well.They are too dense. Upsteam of them find a courser, less dense felt like material to wick grease into the felt bush below it.

In good Brit speak 'orse hair is too stiff for the job.

 

here's how my column came out, then I inserted the bushings, and back it went.

 

Thanks, got it sorted now :-)

 

Good News!. Hope it gives you many years of reliable service.