ADS Off-Road Racing Shocks - Information, Pictures, & BS Thread

My truck with a set of 5100s

 

I am looking at going ADS and had a question, for a stock 3rd gen what rate coils would you go with? 650#? 700#? I plan to add an aluminum slimline bumper, winch, skids, and rock sliders eventually but not this year. I am looking to get about 1-2" of lift, maybe 2.5" if I feel its necessary. Also, the general consensus on compression adjusters seems to be wouldnt live without them. Can they be added later (like during rebuild)? I saw a few comments in the thread that they could but wasnt sure this was definitive. I may just get them now since most people seem to prefer the adjusters and my Daily driver weight vs Offroad weight will vary by ~300lbs in the bed and I will be adding armor down the road. I am going Heavy dakars in the rear since I will be running a GFC full time (no garage to store it in).

 

#700

 

They can definitely be added during a rebuild but might as well just get them to start instead of waiting several years until rebuild time. Buy once, cry once.
As for the specific setup I'd recommend talking to a shop that specializes in these setups like @Downsouth Motorsports or @M C M instead of random idiots on the internet.

 

@HeadStrong Off-Road @Downsouth Motorsports @M C M

 

Thanks for the feedback, I will probably buy once cry once since I dont want to wish I had got them given the price point with/without them. I have been working my Marie at Headstrong and she has been very helpful so far.

 

With an aluminum bumper? I honestly think #650 since OME medium springs are #590

 

That’s really good. Fox recommends a rebuild after 50k if it is 100% street driving.

 

@geekhouse23 if you didnt see this

 

Four days into having my coilovers, and I have to say, I’m somewhat frustrated and disappointed. I ordered the extended travel remote resi with 600 lbs springs for my first gen. I haven’t adjusted the Pre-Load, I left it just as they shipped from ADS. The ride height it slightly shorter than what I had with the OME set up and top spacer, which is fine because I like the stance it has now.


So far the ride hasn’t been what I thought it would be at all. I can’t tell much difference between the ADS and my worn out OME. I know tires play a big role, I’m running Nitto Trail Grapplers which are an E load range, I need to check the pressure they’re running, and right now I’m not running any extra weight up front


I’ve spent a lot of time on the highway, but even more time on backroads that desperately need grading, and two paths. It doesn’t feel like they’re soaking up anything, and certainly not making for a smoother ride. It still feels like a harsh ride, and jarring. Although I don’t off-road, I knew what kind of roads I works be seeing, the reason why I wanted a performance coilover.


Did I order the wrong set up for my situation? Or were my expectations not the reality? Do I have too much Pre-Load since I’m not running any extra weight? Sorry if any of these questions are dumb, I spent a lot of time figuring out what direction I wanted to go, and right I’m underwhelmed after reading everyone else’s experiences.

 

No way would I go 75k without a rebuild, and there's no reason ADS would have a longer service interval than any of the other brands.

Depending on where you live, you also need to consider corrosion when timing out rebuilds. Don't want to let them go too long, even if you don't have many miles racked up.

Huge difference for me between OME and ADS. You still have your sway bar on?

Also wonder what they are coming with for valving. Mine were really soft on compression, so I had them revalved quite a bit stiffer. You could certainly consider revalving them softer if that's what you want.

 

Sway bar is gone. I don’t feel these are soft on compression at all. For me getting them revalved would likely mean having to send them off. There are no shops like that where I am. I’m just trying to make sure I’m not missing anything before I do anything else.

I recently redid the whole front end. Bushings, ball joints, the whole 9 yards. I replaced the LCA bushings with Whiteline. I’m getting some kinda of pop when the front is flexing, like when going through a bottom. I thought it was just the old OME set up, but it’s still doing with with the ADS. Im starting to wonder if something in my LCAs isnt right and is binding. Or maybe the camber bolts are too tight and not allowing enough movement....I’m just trying to go through every possibly scenereo because something just doesn’t seem right.

 

They can be added, but its generally not cost effective as it will require different hoses and the labor of swapping them on to the resis. I usually recommend people try to budget for them if they think they will really want them. Don't really see people that regret getting them, but alot usually wish they had went ahead and bought them. The 3rd gens seem to be heavier and the 700 lb springs seem to be what most people like on those.

 

Check your tire pressures, you at least have quality tires so you can rule that out. 90% of the complaints I see like this always come down to tire choice or tire pressure. I have had people come in thinking their shocks were blown after switching from a quality tire to a junk tire like the coopers or other cheaper brands. Since you have Nittos, I would be curious to see what your tire pressures are at. Your tires are your initial suspension, if you had round solid tires, it wouldnt matter what shocks you had it would ride like crap over everything. So if you are running 30+ PSI in a Load Range E tire, the truck doesn't weigh enough to load those tires so it will give you constant feedback of everything little bump in the road.

 

Thats the route I was leaning towards. Its also a dual cab sb if that matters. V6, 4x4.

 

Don’t recommend people take their sway bar off. That is a HUGE insurance issue if a wreck occurs

 

Coopers are junk tires? Everyone seems to like them and toyo/Nitto are heavy as f!$& for these trucks

 

They may need to settle a bit. My medium OME were scary jarring stiff until 1000+ miles and now they are way softer (ideal)

 

Check your body mounts and also type:

“Tacoma 3in lift popping noise” into YouTube