Thanks, Mike. I was able to get this part working properly, now.
I am going to work on the horn issue tonight. I have a hunch that the lower pad is not perfectly centered on the column, so the actual center hub of the steering wheel is making contact on the inside portion of the ring.
If the lower pad was off by even an 1/8" left to right I think it will touch.
The ring should be "floating" around the collar of the steering wheel, not touching whatsoever, correct?
The carbon pin should be the only thing making contact.
Thats what I gather per sense.
Kile Brekke's post in Original Underhood Finish was marked as the answer