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

I wonder what their turn around time would be like on bypasses. Mine are racking up a bunch of miles. I'd get them rebuilt locally but I also want to have them clock the bodies about 15 degrees. No one local said they can do that haha.

 

Alright, questions for the brain trust.

I’m 5 years and about 40k miles into my ADS setup on our 2018 DCLB. Overall they have been rock solid, no issues. I’ve got the “extended travel” fronts with 700 lbs and the extended travel smoothies in the rear, both with compression adjusters.

Since getting them, our setup has significantly changed. We are on 34” tires and running a front plate bumper and winch, rear HC with swing outs, a Drifter camper with bed build out. We are very heavy. I don’t know the exact numbers but you can probably imagine.

We are still running OME HD Dakar springs with an extra leaf, which I intend to change to Deavers with BAMF hangers sometime this year.

I’m running basically factory preload on the front which puts us pretty much at stock height, maybe 1/2” over. My only real complaint about these shocks is the topping out (I know, limit straps). The thing I can’t figure out is why some people don’t seem to experience it at all. When I am heading up a steep rocky climb, I’m basically riding at full droop up front and topping out constantly.

Am I over sprung up front and undersprung in the rear? Am I under damped? Increasing compression often feels harsher (amazing for high speed desert travel).

Is this just life with the suspension geometry we have and no one else cares?

Is it something to do with the SPC control arms? I feel like everyone who has mentioned this is on SPC’s so maybe it’s BJ binding and not top out? It sure feels like top out but maybe I’m crazy.

I’m about ready for a rebuild so I’m just wondering if there is something I should be changing for the next 40,000 miles.

Thanks brain trust!

 

Need to weigh your truck. Get them valved for the weight and springs. Talk to ADS about that, to have the shim packs for when you rebuild.
For the front, you say 700lbs springs. Which length? For instance my truck weighs 6400lbs 3200F 3200R and I run 16x650 springs and its great. Little to no preload also. Theres a thing called spring ramp rate, longer a spring the lower its capacity needs to be to hold a weight. So, if your on say 14" springs, see if you can swap to 16" and drop a rate. 18" Wont work on a 8" travel CO, ive tried so on a stock CO 16" probably max.
Also, about 2? ish years ago they started putting in rubber bumps internally to lesson the top out noise. Ask for those to add when you order shims for a rebuild.
Can still add straps if you wanted to.
With the rear, make sure you weigh your truck and call Deaver to get a set made. Dont just off the shelf. You'll get better results. Costs the same.
PS; you can also adjust shims for the adjusters, just not common and usually ADS will say revalve first then decide.

 

Thanks for all that. Yeah I need to weigh it for sure. Maybe next time I pass a CAT scale I will do that. I’m on 14” springs which I thought were the longest ones you could run on standard length control arms.

Good to know about all the rest. I’ll have that conversation with them. Thanks again!

 

@Sixthelement I highly doubt he can fit a 16" long spring on a mid travel coilover. I assume you have an LT kit, which is why you have a 16" long spring. Thats a very different setup.

@tacomarin From what I understand, the truck was riding well until after you made a bunch of changes that added weight to the truck. I think its just a matter of matching up the suspension with the new weight. Tuning the shocks to match the new weight and springs would be a good idea. Like mentioned above, I would also reach out to ADS and see what they are able to do for you.

 

My old ext travel shocks for stock setup ran 16s.
Edit: they were Radlfo and they do build different to others. I don’t have them anymore though. Correct with my LT I have 8” travel CO and use 16”. Can use 18” just have to drop the rate

 

Thought this fit in here pretty well

 

36,000 miles in with my ADS coilovers on my older 4Runner and I finally replaced the bottom bearings (thanks for the killer service and parts @TMFF). I should start looking at a full shock rebuild after three years but wow do they ride nicely with the new bearings. Still recommending these shocks to everyone and anyone that asks.

 

Anyone know a better way to contact them other than the email on the website? And/or, what’s the best way to go about getting a rebuild done?

 

Call the shop. Phone number is listed.

 

Howdy All,
Replaced the lower spherical bearings and misalignment spacers. The old ones had 31K+ miles on them and were just starting to get loose and squeek. so had some free time and pulled the coil overs and knocked out the old and threw in the new. Still no leaks but next year I will send in to get rebuilt.
Be Safe..

Dan

 

where did you buy those spherical bearings? Part #?

 

Got mine here https://www.303shockservices.com/
I recommend the stainless versions and getting the upgraded bolts that fit the lower bushings better.

 

Oh sorry just seen this. I got the kit from ADS (Tyler). I just emailed him told him what I had and he sent it out. Last year so I am not sure of pricing now.

Dan

 

I've got 250-T4006-070 ADS DIRECT FIT RACE SHOCKS on the way. There's not a whole lot of info on the site, I'm not sure if it's included with the shocks. They just say extended but I don't know what that means. Is there a set amount of lift or is it adjustable? They come with 700# coils, which seen to be less/the same as stock OR coils. If the preload is wound all the way up to the top, I assume that makes them softer? I have no extra armour up front outside of sliders and an AL skid plate.

Does it come with a preload adjuster tool or is there one that I need to get? How long is the 700# coil?

 

If they are direct fit (OEM replacement), it’s a 3”x14” coil. Extended just means the shocks have an extended length stroke compared to OEM travel shocks (usually .5”-1” greater). So you get tiny gains in terms of travel of the suspension (hey, 1-2” is a lot to some people).

Ride height is adjustable from 1-2.5”. Preload, as the name implies, would be to preload or pre-compress the spring on the coilover. People tend to confuse adding preload with adding ride height, but the two are not the same. For example, if you had a coilover setup on the truck with 2” of lift, but then decided to add a bumper or some skids, causing the lift to drop 1.5”. To compensate the change in weight, you can do one of two things. 1) Swap for a heavier spring rate that maintains 2” of lift unloaded, or 2) Preload the existing coil spring so it’s compressed rate corresponds to the rate needed to restore 2” of lift. Make sense? It isn’t as simple to say a preloaded spring will be stiffer because every truck’s weight as kitted is variable.

That being said, if you don’t have extra weight on your truck, 700# is a lot of spring on the Tacoma in a stock A-arm configuration. 600-650 is good for lighter to mid-weight setups. Either way, ADS are great adjustable and rebuildable coilovers. They’ve been working great for me.

 

So it's possible to get 3" out of them, but it's done with longer coils rather than adjustments? Seems it's setup for 2-2.5" from factory

Got them today

 

Ride height is adjusted via the collar, and a 3.0x14" spring is the correct and longest spring that fits. Sorry if that wasn't clear, was giving you the concepts of spring preload vs ride height. You will need a spring compressor for adjustment turns on the collar. The springs will already have tension (a little preload) on them. They can get close to 3" of lift, but that height isn't optimal for suspension travel. Sweetspot for lift on an OEM replacement shock is around 1.5-2". And then additional lift can easily be gained with tires to get to 3" overall.

 

how hard was it to get the shock out of the LCA? Did you loosen the LCA alignment bolts completely? Total time?

 

If I were to use a 13x3 coil, would I just preload to get the same height as a 14x3 coil?