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

Any suggestions on rebuilding? I think I have around 30-40k miles on mine, and they’re squeaking like crazy. It’s about to drive me insane. Figured it’s about time to have them rebuilt.

 

They're somewhat new, but I'm a big fan of RLT in Utah. I've chatted with Miles, the owner, a bit and he's super friendly and informative. I'll be sending him my coilovers when they're ready for a rebuild, probably next summer. I'm sure shipping will be pricey too so I'd look around for local options, not sure what the off road community is like in Georgia.

 

If you want to do it yourself, it's not all that difficult. I wrote up a step-by-step guide with photos here:

Rebuilding/Revalving Smooth Body Shocks – ADVENTURETACO

Alternatively, you can send them to @TMFF and he'll do a fabulous job rebuilding them for you.

 

I read your write up, it seemed a little intimidating LOL

 

If they are squeaking, it's likely the spherical bearing. That's what happened to my driver side anyway

 

I had mine rebuilt at ADS, service was great, price reasonable and they finished a few days ahead of schedule.

 

If you’re going to need to ship them out, I recommend Downsouth Motorsports, but ADS would be a good option as well. If you haven’t gotten it done, look into custom valving for how you use your truck.

 

Been running ADS for roughly 3 years now and realized I have yet to post in here.

I do have a question, what are the symptoms of a binding spherical bushing? Any particular sound?

PFA

 

You might hear a squeaking sound when the suspension cycles, but more likely you wont. The best way to know if you need new spherical bearings is to check them (which isn't hard). All you need to do is (one side at a time):

1. Support the front of the truck
2. Remove the wheel
3. Remove the lower shock bolt so you can pivot out the lower eye
4. Check the spherical bearing for play

Here's the rating scale I use for their replacement:

• New
• Good - not new, but still tight.
• OK - not time to replace, but not really tight anymore.
• Time to Replace - loose, but not jiggly.
• Jiggly - noticeable gap between ball and race.
• Oops - starting to wear through one or more of: race, misalignment spacers, shock bolt.

You can read more about spherical bearings in a few posts I've made; shout if you have any questions:

• Replacing ADS Spherical Bearings
  
• Replacing the Spherical Bearings, Again (with Stainless Steel) -- this is an important post, that talks about the types of bearings you should use. Note the -F1 designation.
  
• Front ADS Coilover Spherical Bearings (update)
• ADS Coilover Spherical Bearings (resolved)

 

Thanks for taking the time to write that out for me. I always seem to have my truck up without wheels so that’s an easy block check.

I have your recommended replacement saved for future reference in the event mine are due.

thanks again, it’s appreciated!

 

Replaced my spherical bearings and misalignment spacers and all seems well! No more squeak as of yet. Does appear I have a small leak on one, so rebuild is in the very near future.

 

Great write up Dan!

I'm now stocking COM, FKS, and FKSSX bearings. I also am adding ADS specific spacers to the website in the Tacoma and 2016+ 4Runner width's. They should be live next week when I receive the parts from ADS.

 

Late as hell, but wondering if you have the model of shock you used for the Archive Relocation setup. In the market now and want to be sure I order the right thing.

 

Is anyone running the swaybar with the ads fronts? They link seems to hit the coil.

 

yah…have to grind down the bolt end where it’s holding the vertical sway links

 

Ahh so this is normal thing and it clears after?

 

well, for me I only had to shave about 1/8”-3/16” of the bolt end. I just used a disc on a dremel, cut it off. Not sure it’s normal but in my experience with changing out components…sometimes things like this happen.

 

I took mine off and have not once ever missed it

 

I still run mine and I've never had any issues....never had to shave anything down.

 

Anyone have issues with tire rubbing reservoir? I have 265/75/16 tires so they arent even wide.