The play in and out in your steering column is indicative of a common failure point; the plastic bushings in the upper and lower steering column. This can let the lower end of the shaft float and the u-joints feel like they bind. The vendors sell bronze bushings to insert in the column and replace the plastic.
The lower shaft slip joint also becomes loose over time and there are a couple documented fixes, but that one should not cause binding, just some slop.
Julian