The "u-joint looking thing" that holds the steering column to the dash is a u- bolt. I don't know the specs on it (bolt diameter, length of legs, distance between legs, or thread pitch) but you may be able to come up with a suitable replacement at your local hardware of farm supply store.
Lifer - there is a little plastic bearing or liner that goes inside the bracket around the column that we could not find. Ours was only pieces. We ended up taking a section of a peice from a thick plastic tub and heat formed it into shape. This thermoplastic material provides a good low friction surface.