Thanks for the suggestions
I think the creaking is actually something rubbing on the plastic column covers. I wouldn't have thought a bearing should have failed on something with only 2500 miles? I wonder if the grease that I found on the covers was someones attempt to stop the rubbing.
The alignment of the UJs makes sense & If I thought that maybe one drive was with the steering column in the highest position & one could have been on the lowest that could explain why the tightness varies.
I will get the covers off again & check the alignment & report back.
