Check of Telescoping Force

Set the steering wheel in the straight ahead driving position, and loosen the lock lever fully.
Attach a commercially available spring scale (A) to the center point of the steering wheel, and push the steering column all the way in.

Fig 1: Checking Telescoping Force
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Pull the spring scale, and read the force required to pull the steering column out.
Telescoping force:

Standard: 90 N (9.2 kgf, 20.2 lbf) max.
If the measurement is higher than specified, replace the steering column as an assembly (see STEERING COLUMN REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).