Which orientation should the oem strut mounts go?
 

Hi, I remember reading somewhere that these red/green markings are references for installation in the right orientation. Is there a specific way that these are supposed to face on the strut mount? I feel them moving with my fingers when turning the wheel so just want to make sure they are not installed backwards. Thanks!
https://i.ibb.co/FsYSvWj/20210603-164520.jpg

They're symmetric doesn't matter which orientation

So I just got it installed and after tightening the strut hat down (suspension not yet installed on car), when I press left and right at two of the corners from above the top hat, the hat has a very small play/wiggle. Is this normal or did I screw something up?

Also, right after installation I took it on a small test drive and while I was stopped, the first couple of steering lock to lock turns I did, near the end of both locks I can hear the spring making crunching noises, like what the springs would sound like when you try to turn the lock nut without holding the shaft.

After about 4-6 lock to locks, the springs did not make this crunching noise anymore, so I assume it was setting itself in, but hopefully that doesn't mean I twisted the shaft doing so? What do you guys think. What I thought would take me 1.5hrs took over 4hrs lol.

Not sure what you mean by wiggle, if everything is torqued properly you should be fine.

Yes springs settling in
The shaft inherently twists, it's unavoidable and isn't catastrophic in small amounts during assembly.