SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1543401
BORN IN THE DESERT ADS Expands Its Racing Heritage Into Direct-Fit Aftermarket Components By Dan Sanchez Photos Courtesy of ADS Known for its durable and reliable racing shocks, ADS began as a Tuscon, Arizona machine shop founded by Steve Kurker in the 1990s. It supplied local mining and military operations with hard-to-find components and provided them with a quick turnaround time. An avid off-road enthusiast, Kurker also saw that racers needed similar components for their vehicles and eventually began manufacturing a variety of replacement components, eventually creating its own line of race shocks. With success in the racing market, it wasn’t long before ADS looked into the needs of UTV owners, producing racing shocks and high-grade products for Polaris, Can-Am, and Kawasaki. Lately, these include billet aluminum radius rods and reinforcement plates, billet sway bar links, shock tower braces, tie rod kits, and more. • Ryan Flanders, ADS Senior Product Manager The company has now introduced a line of aftermarket shocks for Toyota, Jeep, Ford, Ram, and Chevrolet applications, based off of its full-race shock line, but made as an OE bolt-on upgrade. “ADS doesn’t offer a factory piece,” says Ryan Flanders, ADS Senior Product Manager. “We make a high-performance option that is a full-blown race-made piece for a variety of applications. Our strength comes from starting in the desert and knowing what is necessary to survive in this type of terrain and environment.” With two facilities in Arizona, including manufacturing, machining, R&D, and warehouse space, ADS’s attention to detail propels the company into increasing popularity in the racing, pre-runner, Overlanding, and UTV markets. “The UTV market is a big push for us,” says Flanders. “We provide a superior level of quality. People use our products to go racing, while others who need a better shock than what the OE units provide can go to the next level.” • ADS Mesa 2.5 UTV Shock The company’s Mesa 2.5 shock is a version of its race shock and is available with or without a reservoir, to provide a huge difference in performance. “Without the reservoir, it cuts down on the price, yet the vehicle owner can feel a huge difference with a 2.5 piston providing 56 percent more surface area,” says Flanders. “Either with or without a reservoir, the Mesa 2.5 uses high-quality race oil and a 7/8” piston rod. It’s a shock for someone who drives 75 percent on the road, but that 25 percent off-road use is extreme.” ADS also partnered with Thumperfab, a leading UTV outfitter with long-travel ktis for Polaris Rangers, Expeditions, Defenders, and more. “Thumperfab sees ADS products as a high-quality replacement, with durability and taking their customer’s vehicles to the next level,” says Flanders. “ADS is always looking for great partnerships for those looking for high-quality shocks to add to their line of suspension products.” • ADS also has upgrade kits for other vehicles including Ford Raptor 3.0 coilovers For UTV applications, ADS has a direct-fit race Multi-Stage Bypass coilover race shocks available as an upgrade, as well as direct fit long-travel coilover race shocks for front and rear. The company also has a line of full racing three, four, and five-tube bypass shocks, as well as a full line of internal bypass shocks up to 5.25” in diameter with remote reservoirs. “What separates ADS from other shock manufacturers is that we build everything here in Arizona,” says Flanders. “We have all the components for a quick turnaround. Nothing is built here for anything but high-performance, and because we live, ride, and race in the desert, we’ve done our homework.” SJ