How to tighten steering wheel

The colum right, if so check the two bolts holding the sreering colum.

most just push into the wiper switch.Disconnect battery negative First wait 3-5 minutes Then on the back side of steering wheel is are the retaining screws that hold the air bag to the steering wheel once removed disconnect wires and place pad side down then remove steering wheel, now you are looking at the air bag cable reel mark it position and remove without turning it. If installed wrong it will break. Remove lock plate then turn signal switch then you can see the handle nub with a small screwdriver pry nub out of wiper switch. and reassemble.

I'd say $125.00 is a good price for a steering column.

First, have to remove steering wheel (but I don't have instructions for the steering column. For that, maybe try alldata.com, but that will cost):

STEERING Steering Wheel REMOVAL & INSTALLATION Without Air Bag EXCEPT F-SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS MODELS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS MODELS Fig. 1: Remove the screws from behind the wheel - F-150 model without air bag
Fig. 2: Pull away the cover with the wiring still connected
Fig. 3: Disconnect the wiring at the steering wheel
Fig. 4: Matchmark the steering wheel
Fig. 5: Remove the center nut from the steering wheel
Fig. 6: Use a steering wheel puller to remove the wheel
Fig. 7: Remove the steering wheel from the shaft
Fig. 8: Correct steering wheel installation
NOTE: The factory recommends that the front wheels be set in the straight-ahead position and you paint or make chalk marks on the column and steering wheel hub for alignment purposes during installation. Of these two safeguards, it is more important to mark the column so even if the column is moved slightly, the steering wheel can still be repositioned in its original position.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the one screw from the underside of each steering wheel spoke, and lift the horn switch assembly (steering wheel pad) from the steering wheel. On vehicles equipped with the sport steering wheel option, pry the button cover off with a suitable prytool.
3. Disconnect the horn switch wires at the connector and remove the switch assembly. On trucks equipped with speed control, squeeze the J-clip ground wire terminal firmly and pull it out of the hole in the steering wheel. Don't pull the wire out without squeezing the clip.
4. Remove the horn switch assembly.
5. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut and remove the steering wheel with a puller. WARNING
   Never hammer on the wheel or shaft to remove it! Never use a knock-off type puller.
   
6. Install the steering wheel in the reverse order of removal. Tighten the shaft nut to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm)

F-SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS MOTOR HOME CHASSIS MODELS

1. Set the front wheel in the straight-ahead position and make chalk marks on the column and steering wheel hub for alignment purposes during installation.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the one screw from the underside of each steering wheel spoke, and lift the horn switch assembly (steering wheel pad) from the steering wheel.
4. Disconnect the horn switch wires at the connector and remove the switch assembly.
5. Remove the horn switch assembly.
6. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut and remove the steering wheel with a puller. WARNING
   Never hammer on the wheel or shaft to remove it! Never use a knock-off type puller.
   
7. Install the steering wheel in the reverse order of removal. Tighten the shaft nut to 30-42 ft. lbs. (41-57 Nm).

With Air Bag Fig. 9: Remove the air bag module and disconnect the wiring harnesses
CAUTION
Read the air bag service precautions in Section 6 prior to doing work involving an air bag equipped steering column component. Always wear safety glasses when servicing an air bag vehicle and handling the air bag to avoid possible injury.

1. Turn the front wheels to the straight-ahead position.
2. Disconnect the battery-to-starter relay cable for at least one minute to let the air bag back-up power supply discharge.
3. Remove the air bag module from the steering wheel (refer to Section 6).
4. Disconnect the horn/speed control wiring from the steering wheel.
5. Remove the steering wheel retaining bolt.
6. Install the Differential Bearing Cone Remover/Replacer, No. T77F-4220B1, or equivalent, and remove the steering wheel. Route the contact assembly harnesses through the steering wheel as it is lifted off of the shaft. To install: NOTE: Make sure the front wheels are still in the straight-ahead position prior to installation.
   
7. Route the air bag sliding contact wiring through the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock position. Position the steering wheel on the shaft an align the marks. Make sure not to pinch the contact wire. WARNING
   Make sure no air gets trapped between the steering wheel and air bag sliding contact.
   
8. Install a new steering wheel retaining bolt, then tighten to 23-33 ft. lbs. (31-45 Nm).
9. Connect the horn/speed control wiring and clip in place. Connect the air bag wire harness. Tighten the module retaining nuts to 35-53 inch lbs. (4-6 Nm). NOTE: When the battery cable has been disconnected, then reconnected, some abnormal driving symptoms may occur for the first 10 miles (16 km) until the PCM re-learns it adaptive strategy.
   
10. Connect the battery to starter cable. Verify the air bag warning indicator light on the instrument panel.

You mean the steering wheel is rocking back and forth? I hope, because if it is slipping left and right, it is not the wheel but the steering control arm, Or something else down under the car. To get to the wheel, take off the horn, I don't think you have airbags, a couple screws in the back should do it, then get to the nut, torque that thing up, you should be all set. Hope this helps.

WARNING THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS JOB IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME WORKING ON CAR. BECAUSE YOU ARE REMOVING AND HANDLING A AIR BAG. YOU HAVE TO DISARM AIR BAGS YOUR STEERING WHEEL HAS A AIR BAG IN IT. YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF RADIO TO KEEP FROM LOSING RADIO PLAYING CODE THEN YOU DISCONNECT NEGATIVE BATTERY FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO DISCHARGE AIR BAGS. TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND HAZARD SWITCH IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN.YOU NEED A HAYNES REPAIR MANUAL.WITH PHOTOS AND INSTRUCTION SHOWING HOW TO REMOVE STEERING WHEEL.YOU NEED SPECIAL TOOLS LIKE STEERING WHEEL PULLER AND SNAP RING PLIERS.

No,the steering wheel has to come off,and the bearing is loose,to tighten the teering back up,it has to be dissasembled.

I have had that problem with my wifes car,i called a mobile repair guy to come out and tighten something in the steering column,cost me about $50

your steering wheel has splines . they strip or worn cant tighten have to replace steering wheel . it has a nut under the horn pad .it might have come loose. but i have never seen one come a lose. but i have known the splines wear on them. disable air bag in steering wheel before removing steering wheel.

Gently rock the steering wheel back and forth against each place it stops while trying to turn the key. DON"T use any force here! You may consider shooting a spray lube into the key slot also.

sounds like your steering lock is messed up. there is a bar that slides up and down on top of the inside of the column just in front of the steering wheel. it may be stuck.. try rocking the wheel back and forth while doing the same with the key