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

Extra compression driver side could just be taco lean. I'd be curious to see what others say because those look to be in pretty good shape to me.

 

There will be some less length on the driver side because it is heavier on that side ( battery and gas tank). My shocks did that new and still do it now (only about 1/2-3/4”), can’t speak for signs of oil leaking. I’ve had mine for over a year and haven’t rebuilt yet and don’t intend to until next year or later this winter because I would be without my truck for 5+ days. I have asked several guys at ADS and they all said these shocks will go 30-60k without a rebuild unless you are beating the hell out of them. One guy even said a customer did a rebuild at 90k miles and the guts weren’t all that bad. Many guys claim they need a rebuild every 10-15k miles. I assume those are the guys beating the hell out of them.

 

Yeah, maybe you guys are right. Maybe I’m just trying to find an excuse to do some work on my Tacoma lol ‍

 

Yeah. You need on board air. Or water. Or a tent. Or something

 

(been just reading for a while, decided to finally register to ask questions)

On ADS bypass, some have a smooth reservoir and some have a ribbed for her pleasure reservoir.

Is there a reason behind what gets built with what? For instance certain diameters get smooth and other diameter gets ribbed?

also i was trying to find a vid for clicker noise to calm the missus down (she is worried it will be too annoying and I say the stereo will drown out anything)

I couldn’t find one, but I’ll see if the search feature is any better now that I finally signed up.

 

Greater surface area for greater heat dissipation. Those are typically for race spec shocks and come with different seal tolerances as well. You don't really want them on a small truck like a tacoma because it would take longer for them to get up in better operating temp range. If for some reason you are burning up 2.5s there is a lot of room to grow before you need stuff like that. Ask the long travel bs thread for notes and vids of bypass noise guys there would be able to help better. What are you getting for your truck that you're looking at bypasses?

 

Mine will be here next Tuesday

 

I'm not sure if this clicker thing is trolling or not.

Clickers are just the name for the adjuster knobs that you use to adjust the compression resistance of the shock. They sort of have a click feeling when the detent engages in each position when you rotate the knob around. The shocks themselves don't click during use.

 

thanks. Yea, I get that they are for additional cooling, i just wasn’t sure if they were a standard feature on certain level of builds.
Like their shaft diameter goes up when you move to a 3.0 diameter shock.

As for the truck, it’s a fun use only vehicle (so don’t have to compromise for daily driving etc etc, noise gets drowned out by the stereo..)

I have a set of 16 inch travel spring under deavers, that will be strapped at 14-5-15 inches.

weight in the bed is two 104# 35 inch spares at the tailgate side of the bed, 5 gal fuel, Jack, traction boards, cooler with drinks, tool box, Arb dual comp in a box (it’s surprisingly real heavy) and possibly a spare drive shaft and other little spares, and a bag with a tent etc.
All of that in a bed rack extended off the bypass rack.

on top of that my less than svelt body in the front and as little as possible gear in the cab... pillows sleeping bag etc.

Use is two fold, trying to keep up with faster trucks that have 50-100% more travel and deeper wallets, in the high desert, touring ghost town to ghost town. And some day trips doing the same.
I am slowing down in life, sold my trailer to get a drive over steel deck but that got put on hold. The “tow out to Barstow etc to blast through the desert and be able to tow it back if/when I break something” are slowly coming to an end. Definitely slowing down in my older years.

Out front is in temporary status until the rear gets sorted. It’s essentially a mid travel set up at 9.5-10 inches with a 2.5 coilover and a set of bumps.

 

No, no, no. Bypass shocks are loud, they click constantly as the check valves in the bypass tubes open and shut.

What you know as “clickers” are referred to as compression adjusters.

 

no, not trolling.
Different communities call things different names.
I don’t know if you prefer adjustment rods... or... heck my mind just went blank on the term for a threaded bit with an Allen key en

And supra4x4, yep, comp and rebound adjusters.

the only reason I ask about noise is quite literally the missus asking. I’ve ridden in trucks with kings that clacked till the cows come home, and a truck that had fox that were loud and another truck with fox that were quiet. (I’m exhausted and my brain isn’t working, I heard that fox has different or rather quiet Tappets or what ever the internal piece is called that’s on the spring in the bypass tube, that you can order if desired.)

I couldn’t care less if they are loud as long as they work. This is just a pretty epic thread about ads which is a unicorn topic, so hoping i could find a bit of info unique to the ADS bypass bits so i could show her.

 

I think most people just call it a check valve, other than referring to the tube as a whole.

 

I’m hoping none of my posts come off snotty. The interwebz are weird.
I’ve spent a good year and a half as just a lurker reading this forum. But to find an answer to her question, I had to register and ask. In about 3 more weeks she will get her answer first hand, but figured I’d try to find an answer for her question sooner...

And mine as well since it’s a basic bit of info and you guys are pretty familiar with the ins and outs of the company.

 

You’re all good. Just want to make sure you get the right information and answers to your questions.

 

Well one of ADS' things they do different is they put big bypass valves on all their bypasses for the most part. King has tiny ones until you get to like 3.5s or something like that. I know i've seen it somewhere that ADS bypasses are a lot quieter than the big king ones (although pretty much all shocks are) but not sure about how loud they are compared to the little kings or what fox offers

 

I appreciate it. I get my few moments of peace and my brain is mush.
When the bypass valve hits the stop, it makes a clack. Well some do some don’t. No idea if it’s a spring strength issue or a parts material or shape or what not.

but as a whole assembly, I’ve always heard them called the “clickers on your bypass” and if they meant the “rebound clicker” or comp clicker” and then “upper” or “lower” etc etc etc.

just different lingo for different groups...

many devil dogs here? Walk into a JTF meeting and ask for the scuttle... port hole... hatch... gee dunk... (God I’m old) just different terms for the same thing.

but yea, she was curious about that. And I’m just curious as to different specs. My next step in the front may be an 8 inch 3 tube bp to help out front and want to consider things like the exhaust radiant heat etc etc. and if a ribbed or finned reservoirs is needed. If they are then that bridge will be crossed as the intel is in the back pocket.
If the bypass body is no where near the heat, and if i am not having a heat generation issue, then the reservoir Won’t be an issue.

 

yes! And they have a set up for leafs which is awesome. That was the selling point for me.
Large tubes. Parallel.... etc etc etc

 

Hahaha I gotcha now. That makes way more sense.

 

My fault - I totally misunderstood what you were asking! Carry on

 

@Redbeardfifty don't be afraid to post some pictures of what you decide on (even if not ADS) I think it would help push along this topic and a few others. Sounds like an interesting set up and I for one would like to see how it pans out.