IlDuce: Developments since last post, the garage refused to believe any paperwork I presented to them, I then investigated official complaint procedure, but was put off when I was told something to the effect of garages can use whatever test they like, and we won't say thats right or wrong way to do it.

VINZ, VTNZ, Honda and 3 small garages all said the test method used on my car was wrong.

However in the end I needed the car for work so couldn't play around any longer, so I booked the car in for replacement of the (most likely) perfectly good ball joints at another garage - and when they went to change them, they rung me up and said there was nothing wrong with them at all, and so issued a new WOF instead.