We got up to CRS around 9am and there were already a couple of vans being worked on…a blue one that needed some repair work, and a lovely two tone white and Cadbury purple LWB camper (
@W1bb1y666 nice to meet you!) that it turned out was having basically the same kit as me…the ever popular ‘Definition’ kit. I think we’d both pretty much left it in the hands of Chris to tell us what we needed after saying how the vans were and went with his recommendations. I had also asked about poly bushes on the front and wheel spacers all round as I’m just running the standard 17s so thought spacers might help the look. I did mention the chirping from the OSF area as Chris was having a look around and he said they’d have a look.
My van’s turn came around 10.45 and the guys quickly got to work stripping it down and getting it prepped, and about 1.5hr later it was back down and ready for a spin around the block with Rob. How they do it so fast, I’ve no idea! The van has only had a small height ride drop, as this is more about comfort and would probably look silly with 17s, but I could also straight away notice the look of the wheels on spacers. I may go up to 18s in the future, but for now, I think it looks much better with what I’ve got.
Hopping in the driver’s seat and moving off and out onto the industrial estates feeder road, it was immediately apparent things were different. Just turning right slowly you could feel the van was more stable without that wallowy dive it was suffering from previously. Rob suggested I waited a minute before I got too carried away but it was so instantly noticeable it was difficult to not! Rob’s one word of advice before we hit the main roads was to make sure I don’t avoid the pot holes or drain covers! So I didn’t! Blimey! Totally transformed. Gone is that crashing (and clenching of teeth) as the crap state of the roads takes its toll of the van…its totally smoothed it out. Yes, you obviously feel them, but no longer do you have to check your fillings are intact or your spine hasn’t been displaced! Going around corners is so much more planted, direct and weirdly (not sure if I’m imagining things) I said to Rob the throttle response feels quicker and the van feels faster. Not sure why that would be…maybe because the power is put down onto the road immediately rather than the van sagging a bit before it takes off. I’ve no idea, but I don’t mind!
Pulling back into the parking area as a very happy man, and handing over the dosh (there were some extra bits and bobs that were replaced due to corrosion…to be fair, not unexpected on this age van) and after quickly meeting up with my Mom and retrieving the wife and kids from the outlet, we headed home. Most of the road back is motorway, but the wife said it felt quieter, and in fact she even fell asleep on the way home which she never normally does, so I think we can assume the comfort levels are increased!
The chirping is still there, so I’m back to thinking is probably the wheel bearing which I’ll have looked at over the next few weeks. I’m really hoping that’s what it is as after that, it seems to be a bit of a conundrum!
Anyway…a big thumbs up from me for the whole team
@CRS Performance …many thanks guys!
