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

Let’s not kid ourselves. No one here is off-road racing their trucks with these shocks. I would wager that everyone on here does the majority of their driving on road. I actually think you’re right on with your approach. Of course I, like everyone else, rationalize my upgrades as being for off-road performance so therefore I’m more justified in my purchase than you.

 

Haha yeah. The first step is acknowledgement . . .

called ADS and they are sending me valving for rear piggybacks for use with stock leaves with overload removed and a spacer put in its place. Should be interesting.

 

@ferntr33 please let us know your thoughts on the ride quality after you change the valving. I have the same piggybacks so I'm interested to hear your opinion.

 

Valving for your setup will always be better than the off the shelf valving. Whether you notice the difference or if it's worth the cost would depend on how you use your truck.

 

I totally agree. I have not installed my shocks yet so I don't know if they need to be revalved or not. I'm just curious to see how much of a difference the new shims make for OEM leafs with no overload versus what they originally were built with.

 

If you still have your original OEM leafs on your truck they aren't doing much beyond keeping the axle aligned.

 

I’m interested in seeing what’s involved with the tear down and revalving. I’d love to be able to rebuild these on my own when they are due, if it’s not above my pay grade.

 

Nope, I'm on custom Alcans

 

Since we are on the topic of re-valving...when I spoke to the guy at ADS he claimed they pretty much “nailed” the setup for their bolt in shock valving. I have a lo-pro c4 bumper and winch in the front (135lbs) with adjustable clickers. Even with the clickers wide open it still feels a bit stiff/jarring over certain bumps.

Is this due to 700# coils or because the valving is too firm? On my next rebuild I plan to run 650# coils. My question is, would it also be wise to get the fronts valved a little softer since I have the adjusters?

 

You should have them valved to the actual weight and weight distribution of your truck during the use case you care most about. Find some CAT scales and use real information instead of anecdotal evidence. Provide information to the shop doing the rebuild of how you use them, how much your truck weighs, what you do/don't like about the current setup.

 

I asked ADS about that as well. He told me stock leaves are designed to have about 200 lbs on it. So their valving reflects that.

https://www.filthymotorsports.com/Articles.asp?ID=265
Above is what I have watched and read regarding how to revalve. It seems simple enough. Tools are simple enough. ADS sells them and they are not super expensive. Shops can charge your shocks with nitrogen for $10 each if you bring them in. Shims are almost paper thin metal washers that when combined in the proper order make magic. Shops sell those for a few bucks or so.

I’m gonna compare ADS stock valving to what they gave me and go from there. I might even trade my ARB dual compressor for a nitrogen setup. And build a little shock rebuild station if my OCD rash flares up and I need to try to scratch it.

 

IMO you don’t have enough weight to warrant 700# springs.

 

Sliders too, but yeah. It’s weird to me that stock coils are 700#, but feel like mush on those billys

 

Stock coils arent 700lb

 

I don’t know what the stock is, I just know that for ADS they recommend 650 for mid weight and 700 for fat asses like me. I don’t think you can really do an apples to apples comparison just looking at the coils because the shocks are different and the coil lengths may be different.

 

I have 700 with adjusters and I dont feel they are too stiff, I have sliders and full rci skids with fuel tank skid, plan on going lil b hybrid bumber with winch and bedrack rtt.
Although this is my first lifted vehicle lol but doesn't feel jarring over bumps

 

I agree. I should’ve gone 650’s but the guy at ADS recommended 700. Next go I will be able to compare really well because I have been driving on these for over a year now.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-you-need-to-know-about-lifting-a-2016-tacoma-presented-by-toytec-lifts.395798
I believe in the first post of this thread it states that Toytec tested the springs and they were indeed 700lbs

 

3rd gen OR is. The front of the 3rd gen is heavier than the 2nd gen

 

I think a lot of shock tuning guys are saying put a taller softer spring instead of shorter stiffer. Beauty of coil overs are you can do whatever you want. Eibach makes springs in 10 lb increments IIRC. We should have a little spring swap. I’m sure guys would like softer and stiffer but don’t want to spend the $100 for new springs.