Steering column bolts and washers

[sixor8]

Dropped my '99 Griffith steering column today to access dash removal screws and a LOT of washers have been used. Any particular reason for this does anybody know?:



I have noticed that the immobiliser bypass fob receptacle on the right was partially obscured by the dash trim and wondered if the column had been re-secured a little too high?

One of the large washers on each side was between the column support bracket and the underside of the dash.