had an issue just like this in massachusetts with a sticker with the excuse/explanation "theres too much play in your wheel"

took it to my usual repair place ( had hit a large pothole at one point) but they checked it and show me that there wasnt really any wiggle outside the usual give.

took it BACK to the place with the paperwork and they INSISTED the wiggle was too much and they were going to fail it. this ended with the two dudes losing thier shit when i told them im not getting it repaired there they flipped thier shit and i left.

went to a different garage told them what the first two clowns had said and lo and behold it passed.