s10 lowering?

[shaun89]

i no no...its kind of the oppisite of the usual here. but im curious if theres anyone on here that has experience with lowering s10s. i finally was able to pick up a daily driver. its just a '96 s10 2wd, 2.2 5-speed. i want to put a 3/4 drop on it. and thats about it. no rims etc. but my question is will the ball joints be ok dropping it 3" in the front with coils? ive seen the drop spindles. but the coils just seem easier. any pro/cons? any input is appretiated! and i no we all like looking at pictures,so here the beauty

 

[SCK5Blazer]

I've done my share of lowering and bagging...s10s are very easy. I personally would go with 2" spindles and a 1" spring. Just avoid the 3" lower arms, they suck and are a waste of money. If you have any specific questions, I'm sure I have an answer...I've owned 4 s10s all 2wd except the zr2

 

[shaun89]

o cool,im glad theres someone on here with experience. do u suggest the 2" spindle and 1" coil to get the 3" to lengthen the life of the ball joints? any reason not to go with the 3" coil?

 

[SCK5Blazer]

forgot to answer your balljoint question....I never had a problem, but again if it were me I'd go ahead and replace them with power performance balljoints. They are great balljoints, used them on my 2000 when it was both bagged and lowered.

 

[SCK5Blazer]

o cool,im glad theres someone on here with experience. do u suggest the 2" spindle and 1" coil to get the 3" to lengthen the life of the ball joints? any reason not to go with the 3" coil?

Ride quality mainly, plus if you put the spindles on and decide you want 4" or 5" drop later you just have to swap springs.

 

[shaun89]

o ok,cool thanks. and do they make shock relocation brackets? or just go with lowering shocks? im guessing the stock ones will be close to bottomed dropping it 3/4?

 

[SCK5Blazer]

I had belltech's shocks when mine was lowered 3", 5", and when I went back to 4" up front after pulling the bags off and it rode pretty good...I never even attempted using stock shocks so I don't really know how bad they'd be after 3" of drop. I wouldn't bother relocating them, only did that on bagged trucks. I would just go ahead and get either belltech or toxic shocks for the front and rear, I used toxics in the rear of mine both bagged and lowered and I was happy with them.

 

[shaun89]

ok,ill look into the toxic shocks. thanks for the info!

 

[TerryD]

If memory serves, putting a V8 in my 82 lowered the front about 3". At the time, I had NO budget, so I used 2" blocks in the rear for a little bit of a rake. Wheel hopped pretty bad, but still carried 5-600lbs of beef feed good. God I'm a redneck.....

Pics:
The rear tires are 235/75's and the fronts were 225/70's (?)
Crappy pics via my first .25mp camera LOL

 

[K85 Octane]

I've always like Eibach springs, don't know why cause I've never used them, but the idea of a performance spring tickles me But I think their first step is 2.5" or possibly 3, can't remember. I'd like to go an extra inch all around, I currently have the factory zq8 package but changed to KYB shocks when the Bilsteins died. I can't go too far, the truck likes to find itself offroad frequently.

 

[TerryD]

I've always like Eibach springs,

Totally forgot that I have Eibach springs in my Camaro. They are very good springs. The rates go up for the lowering springs, so you don't have as much suspension travel for the same bump you would with the factory springs. My 84 Camaro with the lowering springs rides much better than my 89 with stock springs. I don't know what they do for the leaf springs, but with coils all the way around I'm very pleased with my Eibachs.

 

[shaun89]

id love to bag it or even get nice springs for it. but $$ is always an issue. im looking to just lower it a tiny bit and keep putting money into my wheeler. but dont get my wrong. bagged/lowered trucks done right r t!ts! thanks for the input guys

 

[SCK5Blazer]

Well blocks and springs should get you what you want for the least amount of money,..new shocks will add a little more, but definately worth it. I got bored with the bagged stuff, as far as me having one anyways...a buddy of mine has a very nice 98 std cab s10 he built.

Link to the mag coverage with info... http://www.motortopia.com/streettrucks/feature-trucks/dream-chaser-202/

Into bagged stuff or not I don't think anybody could hate on it or any other well built truck like it for the attention to detail and quality of work. Some people will say it's retarded, some will say lifted trucks are...guess there will always be some of that. I personally like pretty much anything that is built right and looks and or performs well...I hate body work so at least with something built for offroad performance I don't have to worry about looks as much hah so in with a k5, out with my ongoing 8yr 2000 s10 project....I was planning to go performance with minitruck looks for my final go around, but what interest I had was lost after having the truck so long in different configurations. I still find myself looking now and then at ls1 and suspension parts online after walking past it in the garage in pieces on jackstands