I just rebuilt the column on my 91 Olds Toronado. I had to take it out of the car to do because it was so difficult.
I used junkyard parts.
It'* normal to have play fore and aft. there is a spring at the bottom of the lower shaft that pulls it towards the firewall, #95 on diagram, it is a weak spring. And you also have the very strong spring #8 you have to compress at the top when you put the plate #6 on. the upper spring pressure pushes down on the upper race and seat, #13 14 (very important). make sure the inner bearing race seat is slightly pushed into the inner race #13 and 14! This is where I had the most trouble.
the lower spring tends to want to pull the whole shaft assm. back down. I also had what I thought was the right locking plate compresser tool, but it wouldn't push the spring down far enough to get the retaining ring on, just like you, I just put washers on it so it pressed down more and it worked like a charm.
put simply, the race and upper shaft assm. #56 rides up in the tilt housing #46 on the bearing #31 that'* in the bottom of it. and the spring #8 pushes down on the upper bearing inner race and seat on the top of it holding the whole shaft tight top to bottom against the tilt housing
I seriously doubt you did any damage to the column. I thought the same thing as you. so i took it out of the car and stripped it down all the way. those shear pins are very strong and so is the big 4 sided ball joint, (centering sphere).
One last thing. I still had some excessive play in the tilt side to side, enough that it failed inspection. It was the pivot pins #39. After years and years of movement they just were wore out.
I could not find new ones anywhere, but i did find good ones at a junkyard. my column is now good as a new one!
hope this helps, it took me putting it together and tearing it back down 3 times before I figured it out.