95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

ATS Racing bites the dust!

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Old Apr 19, 2003 | 06:34 PM
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ATS Racing bites the dust!

Well it seems as if ATS Racing has gone out of business. If you were fortunate enough to get a set of their arms that had my feedback consider yourself lucky.

This is the second item for 3rd Gen 4Runners that has suddenly dried up. 1st was the Rockstomper Type II skid plate.

There were several batches of ATS arms. Chris Gamborg was the guy you wanted to talk to, no one else.

The original batch that mainly went to Tundra Solutions members and Wheelers Off Road. The second set that had my feedback that Mike at Xtreme Off Road sold. The arms Wheelers Off-Road sold were powder coated black and included Tundra bushing sleeves, which needed to be modified to work with a 4Runner or Tacoma. Avoid the Wheelers and the original 1st batch of arms if possible. The camber will be 1 degree posative. The later arms were able to give close zero camber results.

If you run across a set of these the ones that are desirable are finished with a Pro-Comp like crinkly gray finish.

Moral of the story, if you see a product you can not live without, grab it now.

Last edited by sschaefer3; Apr 20, 2003 at 05:17 AM.
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Old Apr 19, 2003 | 06:38 PM
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Re: ATS Racing bites the dust!

thanks for the info.. too bad I didn't have the $350 before they became defunkt.
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Old Apr 19, 2003 | 08:15 PM
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Seems like the little guys that make the good stuff really suffer when the economy hits the fan.

Meanwhile, 4 Wheel Farts and the other well funded big chain stores continues to do a booming buisness selling worthless crap to the uninformed masses.

Sad, very sad.
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 02:25 AM
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Damn.. Now that the War is over and I am redeployed I was going to get a set. Figures..
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 06:31 PM
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Originally posted by jx94148
... 4 Wheel Farts and the other well funded big chain stores continues to do a booming buisness selling worthless crap to the uninformed masses...
I agree, and get this, I sent a couple buddies to talk to one of the dudes at the local 4wheel farts here and got them lots of business. Now I sent a buddy over there and they quoted him a price of $840 for a set of SAW's for his 3rd gen!!!!!! $840!!!!!! I bought them there for $699 back in August and mine was the first set they sold. then I started sending people there to get them and they decided to try and make a little extra cash off the new item in demand. that is crap when you can just get them from Extreme or Camburg. I finally sent my buddy last week to call Extreme and they gave him a good price. 4wheel farts ain't gittin' no more of my bidness I tell you that.
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 07:43 PM
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Steve, Is there any way to get in touch with ATS and buy up their left over stock?
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 07:51 PM
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???

I have one more long shot chance. I'll give it a shot.

Steve
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 07:53 PM
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Most companies that I know go out of business have stuff laying around and it goes to who ever is interested.
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 07:56 PM
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To the secret e-mail:

Hey Chris-

Did ATS go under? IF so do you have any 4Runner arms to sell off? There are quite a few folks who still want your product.

You did come up with something quite impressive with these arms.

Steve Schaefer
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 08:08 PM
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Right on! all we can do is try.
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 08:11 PM
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Who else would have the "secret" e-mail? Right on in to Chris's home.
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 08:14 PM
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Well, I wouldn't expect anything less. And, if they don't have any maybe you can start making them???
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 08:50 PM
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I only paid $250 for mine
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 08:58 PM
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And you can thank me for paying $350 and making them revise the design. Remember "Steve Schaefer does not accept 1 degree positive, Steve Schaefer makes Chris Gamborg get it right."

Glad to see your finally bolting on the Highway Queens.
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 09:04 PM
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I was never able to get the alignment within factory specs. They're close though, and I don't see any abnormal tire wear, so it's fine by me. I imagine the value of my ATS arms just doubled if I ever want to sell them
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Old Apr 20, 2003 | 09:14 PM
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Originally posted by phong
I was never able to get the alignment within factory specs. They're close though, and I don't see any abnormal tire wear, so it's fine by me. I imagine the value of my ATS arms just doubled if I ever want to sell them
Yep. The original arms leaned the tires out big time. Yep you have a one of a kind item. Next best thing is Total Kaos uniball arms at $800

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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 04:34 AM
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Originally posted by sschaefer3
Next best thing is Total Kaos uniball arms at $800

I thought those were for the 86-95 runners? you think they will fit the 3rd gens or would they require some "persuasion?"
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 05:26 AM
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Kaos has an arm for the Tacoma/4Runner now.

http://www.chaosfab.com/
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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 06:06 AM
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Big Big Bucks.

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Old Apr 21, 2003 | 06:48 AM
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Those are pretty!
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