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

I'm getting super close to ordering my Lift Setup! My goals are 2.5" Front and a slight rake in back. Its on a 2021 Double Cab Long bed, no plans to ever add weight to front or rear (shell, etc).

Can you guys see anything wrong with this setup? Or make any changes before I order it to help me achieve the goals above?

https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/s...System_for_05__Toyota_Tacoma_(ADS05LVL2).html

~~Level 2 ADS front and rear, with SPC Upper Control Arm.

~~600 or 650 Coil weight?

~~I'm leaning towards the ICON RXT in the rear, at option #2 to provide 2.25" of lift. (2.5 in front, 2.25 rear) should keep a slight rake? ( I'm up for discussion on rear leaf setups!)

~~Carrier Bearing Drop Kit

While I'm in there probably order the Clamshell Bearing and replace that as well.
Hold off on the diff drop (ive read this isn't necessary)
Hold off on rear axle shim, unless I have Viberations.

Anything i'm missing?

Thanks!!

 

That’s fine. And 600lbs springs unless you run a bumper and full skids. Springs are easy enough to swap if you add weight later.

 

ECGS Bushing

 

What rears did you get?

 

- 650lb coils (give em 1200-2000 miles to break in for that cush ride)
- Ditch the carrier bearing drop (last resort on vibes)
- ditch the diff drop (useless and actually can be harmful- ask me how I know)
- get the ECGS bushing in the driver CV hole to replace that silly needle bearing to not have vibes from lift
- one small recommendation is to put self-tapping zercs in each barrel of the UCA where the mount rod will go thru to avoid having to take them off to lube them
- if you do rear shims 2-3 degree should cover you

 

I think by clamshell that’s what I meant.. I dunno where I picked that terminology up from, but ecgs is what I meant!

I gotta ask, how do you know about the diff drop! Haha

Any inputs on the rear leaf battle?

love the input… thanks so much guys!

 

Depending on what you are running for added weight in the rear, you may be fine with just running the RXT in the Stage 1 setting. I set mine up in Stage 1 thinking I may have to step it up to Stage 2 later, but now that I've given it several months/miles to settle I feel that the Stage 1 is more than enough for my rig setup.

Unloaded bed with just a Softtopper and aluminum rack over the bed, ARB 2000 awning, I have an inch rake over the front. I set the front lift to 2.5". The RXT Stage 1 lifted the rear 3.5". With 15 gallons of extra fuel, 6 gallons of water, 200W of rigid solar panels, 3 weeks of food and towing a 1500# trailer with about 150#s of tongue weight, it sits absolutely level and handles perfect over miles of washboard and small whoops in the desert. Not changing a thing!

If you plan to add a steel rear bumper, swing out tire carrier, steel rack, RTT, etc then you might be needing the Stage 2 once you load up for trip.

 

Thanks for the insight! I’m looking at the rxt sheet now, it says at stage 1 it only lifts it 1.8”, what am I missing amigo?

I’ve looked at this stuff way to long and the ole brain is cooked

 

2.5” RR w/clickers, standard bolt ons.

 

Extended? So strange you got your rears first, and I ordered waaay before you, and I'm waiting on them but have my fronts

 

That's what I thought as well, but was surprised to have it give me 3.5". It has settled a bit closer to 3" now, and softened up some to perfection, but it would be hella rough on my rig to go Stage 2, or Stage 3 unloaded or without at least a 400#-900# load in the bed.

Oh, and don't forget extended bumpstops and extended brake lines when you get your lift.

 

stage 1 gave me 2”

 

Any recommendations where to get extended brake lines from?

 

I got mine from Headstrong at the same time I ordered my ADS / ICON parts from them.

 

Wheelers carries them...

@Wheeler's Off-Road Inc

 

headstrong offroad is where I got mine

 

Hate to tell you all this But it seems Our great friends in China have shut down one of their biggest container ports in Yantian due to Covid.....Can you say shortages and delays???

 

Hoping to get some insight on ADS from you guys with more information and experience than me on suspension.

I've had 2 3rd gens SR5 and TRD OR. I really prefer the softer ride of the TRD OR which I understand is a progressive setup. From the 30 or so minutes of research I've done including in this thread on suspension setups, It seems that ADS are also a progressive setup, while Bilstein is digressive and fox/kings are linear which will be a firmer ride.

So am I correct in assuming that if I want to upgrade my suspension in the future, ADS would be the best if I wanted that softer feel similar to a stock OR?

 

from what the guy told me from ADS is that they are progressive dampening with digressive rebound…a hybrid of sorts. If you get the right coil depending on extended travel or stock length (a difference of 1” coil length), you would find a nice ride on the highway and an amazing ride on the trails. If you get adjustable reservoirs then you have more control over soft vs form ride. If you truck is stock and you go with stock length coils, a 650# coil should be right. If you run weight such as a bumper and/or skids, a 700# coil may be better. Stock TRD OR coils are a 713# coil, but the shocks are very soft in comparison to coilovers so keep that in mind. Some people may have better advice

 

thank you, yeah I'm also not trying to get some crazy setup. Most areas around me are either hard pack sand or swamp, I am looking at the level 1 2.5 kit, I don't see a need to go all out with adjusters and what not for what I'll be seeing on trails.