A steering column assembly comprising: a. a column housing; b. an inner column tube adapted for longitudinal translation relative to the column housing; and c. an energy absorption module subassembly comprising: i. an energy absorption device; ii. a retainer assembled with the energy absorption device configured for: 1. installation into at least a portion of a column housing of the steering column assembly at a first location; 2. supportively carrying the energy absorption device at least partially within the retainer; characterized in that the retainer is further configured to enable the retainer to at least partially deform in response to a load occasioned during an impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube of the steering column assembly that forces the retainer to translate in a forward direction to a second location that is forward in a vehicle relative to the first location; and wherein the retainer absorbs energy during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube by both plastic deformation of the retainer and the translation in the forward direction; and wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube, and at least a portion of the energy absorption by the energy absorption device results from plastic deformation that occurs after the retainer has reached the second location. a. a column housing; b. an inner column tube adapted for longitudinal translation relative to the column housing; and c. an energy absorption module subassembly comprising: i. an energy absorption device; ii. a retainer assembled with the energy absorption device configured for: 1. installation into at least a portion of a column housing of the steering column assembly at a first location; 2. supportively carrying the energy absorption device at least partially within the retainer; characterized in that the retainer is further configured to enable the retainer to at least partially deform in response to a load occasioned during an impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube of the steering column assembly that forces the retainer to translate in a forward direction to a second location that is forward in a vehicle relative to the first location; and wherein the retainer absorbs energy during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube by both plastic deformation of the retainer and the translation in the forward direction; and wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube, and at least a portion of the energy absorption by the energy absorption device results from plastic deformation that occurs after the retainer has reached the second location. i. an energy absorption device; ii. a retainer assembled with the energy absorption device configured for: 1. installation into at least a portion of a column housing of the steering column assembly at a first location; 2. supportively carrying the energy absorption device at least partially within the retainer; characterized in that the retainer is further configured to enable the retainer to at least partially deform in response to a load occasioned during an impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube of the steering column assembly that forces the retainer to translate in a forward direction to a second location that is forward in a vehicle relative to the first location; and wherein the retainer absorbs energy during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube by both plastic deformation of the retainer and the translation in the forward direction; and wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube, and at least a portion of the energy absorption by the energy absorption device results from plastic deformation that occurs after the retainer has reached the second location. 1. installation into at least a portion of a column housing of the steering column assembly at a first location; 2. supportively carrying the energy absorption device at least partially within the retainer; characterized in that the retainer is further configured to enable the retainer to at least partially deform in response to a load occasioned during an impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube of the steering column assembly that forces the retainer to translate in a forward direction to a second location that is forward in a vehicle relative to the first location; and wherein the retainer absorbs energy during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube by both plastic deformation of the retainer and the translation in the forward direction; and wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube, and at least a portion of the energy absorption by the energy absorption device results from plastic deformation that occurs after the retainer has reached the second location. wherein the retainer absorbs energy during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube by both plastic deformation of the retainer and the translation in the forward direction; and wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during the impact collapse stroke of the inner column tube, and at least a portion of the energy absorption by the energy absorption device results from plastic deformation that occurs after the retainer has reached the second location.