Steering Column Repair: Ignition switch / Steering rack (colum), vauxhall corsa, rac report

Question
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 LS (1996) - not sure if it's a tilt or non-tilt, but it does not have power steering if that helps in identification.

Hello,
I took my car in for repairs at a garage, as it would only start intermittently and the RAC breakdown man told me I needed a new Ignition switch.
After the repair had been done, I drove off but noticed that the steering wheel was vibrating and free-wheeling quite badly. I rang the garage, to be told that most likely one of the pins on the steering rack/column had snapped off. Admittedly, there had been a slight intermittent knocking (but only very slighly)for approx the last 5 months, but the steering wheel itself hadn't been vibrating or free-wheeling.
Anyway, after only a few days of having a new ignition switch installed, my car broke down again. I called out the RAC, who finally managed to start the car, but had no explanation as to what caused the fault when I explained I'd just had a new ignition switch installed.
A few days ago, the same thing happened and again I called out the RAC breakdown and this particular RAC mechanic told me within seconds that it was an ignition switch problem and that the part needed hadn't actually been replaced at all (he could see it hadn't) and that's why the car was still only starting up intermittently.
Tomorrow I will be taking the car back to the garage to show them the RAC report, but what I would like to know from you first, is this: would replacing an ignition switch (or pretending to) cause the steering rack/column to vibrate and free-wheel? In other words, are the two things related? Or is it the case that the two are unrelated and it would be reasonable to expect the steering rack/column to vibrate and free-wheel suddenly, without any warning?
I would really really appreciate your help and your comments in this matter. Many thanks. Sara.

Answer
Hello Sara:

Sorry about your vehicle troubles.

The two are not related and replacing one will not affect the other.  Regarding the vibration, I cannot help you.  My expertise is inside the steering column, not related to the rack and pinion assembly or steering systems outside the car. In addition, as I am in America, we cdo not have that design vehicle so it's impossible for me to comment on what it might be, sorry.

Good luck with your troubles

Doug