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I have an '89 S10 Blazer that is a 2WD/2Dr with a 4.3/Automatic Trans that I need to lower 2''. It also has new 17's with low profile tires.

My problem is that the previous owner did a pretty lousy job of making his own lowering blocks and chopping the lower control arms to drop it 3'' while still using the stock length shocks - so now it rides like crap, my front tires rub during tight turns, and the rear-end shifts around when you accelerate/decelerate - all of which makes it no freakin' joy to drive at all.

I already have to replace the lower control arms since they are already pretty battered and beat up from the previous owner hitting crap with them, but I also want to keep it lowered and still not have any issues with my tires rubbing (like I do now) and I really don't want to spend a small fortune on it.

After looking at a lot of lowering kits, I"m kinda confused about what would be the cheapest/best setup to use. I've looked at several kits that have a lot of different types of hardware and parts that range in prices from $150.00 to $650.00, and of course they all say their kit is the best and only way to go...lol

Should I just grab some used stock control arms from a junkyard, put on some drop spindles, shorty shocks, lowering blocks and hardware - or should I get aftermarket controls arms, rear springs, lowering adapters, or what?

I got this with a straight body, with a great interior, with a great sound system, with low miles, and (other than this problem) for a pretty cheap price for my other half to drive because her car is getting tired, and she's kinda bugging me to death to get it drivable real soon...so any help would be greatly appreciated.

The only problem with drop spindles is that if you run a high offset wheel or wide wheel they tend to rub the control arms. The cheapest way is to run lowering coils and alot of the time the stock shock can be used. Depending on the amount lowering. The spindles are the best route to go but moves the cost up alittle. With spindles you can use the stock shock in almost all applications. If used together you will have to get lowering shocks. Personaly if your only doing 2" I would go with coils and shocks with the rear being blocks. BUT remember to order the 2" block or go to the local speed shop and fork upo the extra 10-15 bucks to get the good blocks with the pinion angle cut into them.

Thanks for the info...ridgway369. I appreciate greatly any/all input I can get for this truck.

I'm already pretty familiar with lowering other trucks/cars, but I never have lowered a 2WD Blazer before, and I sure as the dickens only want to do this once, and I definitely want to get it right the first time.

BTW...the amount I'm going to end up lowering it is something I really haven't completely decided on yet.

I want to lower it as much as possible so my 17's won't rub, but I also don't want it too low to the point where I will lose all of my ground clearance.

(Remember: I said it was for a female driver, and as much as I love her to death - she really isn't big on slowing down to a crawl for speed bumps or avoiding pot holes and bumps in the road...lol)

I am kinda leaning towards replacing the control arms with stock ones, and putting 2 or 3 inch drop spindles on it with shorty shocks/springs in the front and shorty shocks with 2-3 inch lowering blocks/u-bolts in the rear. I know that S10 Blazers were prone to roll-overs because they are too tall with too narrow of a wheel base for their size, so I defintely want to get the center of gravity down lower than stock.

I've also had people say go to 4 to 5 inches lower, replace the front/rear springs and control arms with aftermarket ones too, to spend a lot more and bag it, etc. - and I'm just trying to figure out which setup is the cheapest/best way to go.

I'm kinda working with a $400.00 to $450.00 budget for this - but if that's won't turn out a decent setup that rides and handles really well, then I guess I'll have to fork over more.

I was just hoping maybe someone here has "been there - done that" already and could steer me in the right direction.

Taz, I would go with your plan, replace the stock control arms with stock ones and do spindles (and coils if needed). I had a 84 blazer I did with spindles, coils and blocks and never had an ounce of problem with it. I did custom control arms on my dually and it ended up trashing my whole front end and had to switch over to spindles before I sold it.

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yes i say go with the spindles and blocks new lower a arms as needed and if its not low as you wont get a lowered front spring sum times you need to do a little bit at a time so it will be right in the end what size tires are on the truck and can you get a pic or two .this is what i do for a living i have been doing this stuff for over 20 years and a lot of trucks that i have helped build have been cover trucks on mini truckn and truckn and i am building a s-10 frame for my luv right mine has a mono leaf in back and a drop spindle and spring in front i am going to bag it after i get it all put together

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Pictures would be great also.

Thanks,
Craig

Thanks everyone...I just noticed that the guy that owned it before me also removed a leaf from the rear springs too. What a dipshit. Guys that don't make careful, informed, and well-researched decisions before they start modding their rides to death just amaze the hell right out of me.

Anyway...I guess I'm going to just go to the junkyard and replace the front control arms and rear springs, then maybe go with a 3" drop using drop spindles, shorty shocks, and drop springs in the front....and maybe go with 3'' blocks with shorty shocks in the back.

That way it hopefully won't be too low (probably about the same it is now), my 225/50/17's shouldn't rub, and I think I can still pull a small utility trailer without worrying about dragging the back going in and out of steep driveways.

Here's a few pics.




BTW...I'm pretty sure that this project won't be nearly as much fun as my Luv is - mainly because my other half will be closely supervising me, since it's going to be her truck...lol