61 Implala upper steering coupling
 

Inside the coupling under the bearings the manual says there are a couple of "wave washers" to tension the bearings. I don't remember removing any wave washers and there really isn't clearance for them. I don't see any wear pattern where there were any in there. Does anyone know if these were on every model?

These are more like a "plate" as big as the coupling, not like what you'd think a washer would be underneath a screw. Those things are an adaptor to the steering rod.

I am not sure what you mean. If you are referring to the nickel sized plug in the bottom of the bell shaped housing, that is not what I asked. The steering shaft has two knobs at the lower end that go into a bell shaped housing. There are two square bearings that sit on the knobs. These bearings slip into grooves in the bell shaped housing. Under these bearings are shown to be little washers approximately 1/4" in diameter. These push the bearings out as a thrust bearing would push on whatever it is supposed to load. Did all of these come with those little wavy washers?