I answered my own Q here: Having the driver-side metal knee bracket out is what caused the steering wheel vibration noted above. I reinstalled it, tightened down, and no more vibration. It had been out since way back in Jan 2016 while troubleshooting the driver-side temp damper motor. Then I was under there for manually adjusting the dampers with a battery until I found a J/Y ECC. Then again, to plug in fog light relays.my steering wheel vibrates up & down when I start the car with no hands on it. It also bounces up and down over rough roads ~ 40mph. Is that normal? With that said, I do want to add that the metal knee plate & lower trim panel are not installed down below the dash on the driver nor passenger side. Would this cause the steering wheel to shake more? I've been doing so much work up underneath there the past few months, I just left them off.
Given the earlier "rack severely worn" issue mentioned above, I wonder if the guy mistook the excessive steering wheel movement for a worn-out rack?
This car just drives me NUTS sometimes.........