S10 Daily Driver Upgrades ?

[JEFFTATE]

Ok.
I have a '99 S10 for a daily driver.
It's a plain , entry level S10. Not an Extreme or anything.
The factory shocks are finally worn out. ( 108,000 miles )
So I thought about a shock upgrade.
Maybe to Bilsteins.
But I also was considering lowering the truck and/or upgrading the springs at the same time .
( Probably only about 2" lowering )
Bilstein doesn't make a shock for a lowered S10.
Only stock replacements.

So , does anybody have any recommendations for kits / soforth ??

[lower90xcab]

i would just buy a belltech kit; you can get with 2/2 drops all the way up to 5/6 drops...if you are looking for just a 2/2 drop i would use spindles and blocks...if you looking for the level look and keeping factory ride, i would go with spindles and drop leafs which will be a 2/3 drop...Im running their nitro active drop shocks...im really happy with them..

[JEFFTATE]

Thanks Scott !
I've been surfing the I'net , looking for info.
It helps to get firsthand advice from someone who has actually done it !
I appreciate it.

[Eric Howell]

If you use spindles and blocks to lower it you can still use the Bilsteins.

They should have a shock for a lowered application since they came on the ZQ8 trucks and they were lower 1.5" front and rear by springs.

[lower90xcab]

they do have bilsteins, but they are crazy expensive...i priced the bilstein hop shock (3rd shock on dif) the only place i could order it was from the dealer at over 200bucks and thats at my discounted price...i would just stay away from toxic shocks, have heard bad things about them....i have beat the hell out of my nitro active shocks and they dont seem to complain....

[bbcc]

My daily is zq8 sonoma. To me the ride is great, some find it a bit to rough, but I have some very stiff shocks in it. The beltech stuff will work great, I've always heard great things about thier front springs and rear leafs. I would stay away from blocks though. I tried a 1" block in the rear of mine, horrible axle wrap and vibrations insued. My ball joints are pretty muched pooched so I think I will call sc&c for a tall upper and lower ball joint set with the spohn upper control arms. If I go through with it, I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

Cheers, bbcc

[bobhamilton15090]

I did a 2/3 drop on my 2000 s10 and loved it. I first used a drop spindle, but had too many alignment problems with it. I pulled them out and put Hotchkis springs in with stock spindles. The rear was blocks and I used nitro drop shocks all the way around.
If I were doing another truck I would do it the same way.
Good luck on the search

[JEFFTATE]

I called Bilstein.
Their representative informed me that they do not reccommend their shock for the REAR of an S10 that has been lowered.
But they do offer a shock that will replace the FRONT of a ZQ8 equipped S10.
?????
Hmmm......

[syborg tt]

Bell Tech Drop Spindal & 2" block in the rear is great for a daily driver.

Ps I may have some of these parts laying around if you need them.

[ENHANCED AIR RIDE]

Done tons of S-10s with Bell Tech products, ride great shocks are nice and firm Nitro charged. Usually carry the parts in stock.

[jwvess00]

Hi there!

If you lower the front with spindles, you can use stock length shocks -- just get replacement Bilsteins for your truck, and ignore that it's been lowered with spindles.

If you lower the rear with blocks, you can use stock length rear shocks since the blocks do not change the shock travel. So, lowering with blocks means you can use the recommended replacement shock from Bilstein and not have any concerns. I have exactly that arrangement on my S-10 right now (Bilstiens and 2" lowering blocks).

Since the front is almost the same as a G-body, you can use coilovers meant for a G-body as well, which is more expensive but gives you an adjustable ride height. Be careful about spring selection, though, since an S-10 truck is nose-heavy and came stock with much stiffer springs than a G-body. For reference, the stock spring under my S-10 Sport is a Moog 5662.

[JEFFTATE]

Thanks Again !

[dusterbd13]

im actually running stock 2d 99 blazer bilsteins on my 2/3 s10. no problems whatsoever. also using the belltech coils and leaves, and love them. rides great, handles better. theres a lot of stuff that can be done to these trucks aside from just lowering it a little. think sway bars, bushings, ball joints, steering boxes, frame braces, etc.

most of that can be done with junkyard parts of youre patient.

Michael

[JEFFTATE]

So.....
I was thinking of JUST putting 2" lowering blocks on the rear.
And cutting the front springs to get the desired ride height.
Then use BellTech Nitro2 Dropshocks all the way around.



BUT !
Will I encounter alignment or front suspension geometry problems ?
Like , will the control arms be at a bad angle.
So I'll get a lot of negative camber gain and bumpsteer ?
Will I be able to get the alignment right ?

[syborg tt]

Don't cut the springs you won't be happy with the ride & handling

ps - I do have a set of Drop Spindles if you are interested

[email protected] if you want to e-mail me.

So.....
I was thinking of JUST putting 2" lowering blocks on the rear.
And cutting the front springs to get the desired ride height.
Then use BellTech Nitro2 Dropshocks all the way around.

BUT !
Will I encounter alignment or front suspension geometry problems ?
Like , will the control arms be at a bad angle.
So I'll get a lot of negative camber gain and bumpsteer ?
Will I be able to get the alignment right ?

[dusterbd13]

no negative geometry problems that i know of.
alignment may be an issue depending on how low you go.

and id honestly suggest drop coils. the front coils get a little harsh when you cut the stockers. the spring rate goes up dramatically.

Michael

[JEFFTATE]

Thanks Michael.

[TRILOGYZ28]

my 01 Blazer with 2" belltech drop spindles and 3" belltech drop coils along with 3" drop blocks in the rear.
and i was running stock Xtreme Bilstiens with no issues whatsoever.

[ponchopwr70]

I have a lowered zq8 s10 with the factory replacement bilstiens from autozone with no prob. I have drop spindles and blocks.

[Marcus SC&C]

Jeff, I could have sworn I replied to this thread a couple weeks ago but I don`t see it here anywhere... Anyway, the front end of your S10 is the same as a G body. The same rules and mods apply in the same ways. The geometry is lousy as is the bumpsteer so you may as well make those better while you lower it. Drop springs may be part of the solution. Drop spindles need not apply, they lower the truck true enough but they don`t do anything else for you and there`s too much to be done to ignore it IMO. You don`t need "lowering shocks" unless you`re doing the lowrider thing. Stock length shocks will already let the suspension compress enough to bottom out, how much more than that do you need? WHen you drop the suspension using springs you`ll gain + camber and need a ton of shims to try and get it back to normal. That`s less than ideal and it prevents you from using more beneficial than stock alignment settings. Our Stage 2 package is the most cost effective way to correct the front end geometry and bumpsteer as well as lower it about 3/4". http://www.scandc.com/suspensions.htm#streetcomp2
This package totally revamps the front end geometry and dramatically improves handling and drivability. We should also have our 2-Plus package out for G/S10 shortly with has more aggressive geometry still. If you want to go a little lower combine it with a set of performance lowering springs or our SPC adj. ride height lower arms (one pair of LCA bushings need to be drilled out to S10 size but otherwise they`re 100% bolt in). If that`s more than you want to get into you can do a Stage 1 or some variation and upgrade it later on. If you want to do a cheap brake upgrade too check out a set of the dual piston 2wd Blazer spindles/brakes they work a lot better and work great with the Stage 2 package. They`re also easy to upgrade to C5 brakes. Mark SC&C