Freeplay in steering

[galtaforce]

I recently had my GTI at the dealer to check the wheel alignment because the steering wheel was off centre relative to the direction of travel (if wheel was straight ahead, the car veered to the left). The did the wheel alignment and made some improvements on paper at least.

Anyway, as I was driving home, I discovered there was now about 5 degrees of free play in the steering around the centre! I'm not sure exactly what is done in a wheel alignment but could they have introduced some slack in the steering mechanism somehow?

I realise 5 degrees isn't much but it wasn't there before it went to the dealer and I'm a bit obsessive and it bugs me no end.

[prise]

Its a safety issue - call the dealer first thing and report it. If it really is 5deg of genuine freeplay I wouldn't recommend driving it until its been inspected by a mechanic - 5 deg in and of itself isn't the issue, its what could be causing it.