wanting to drop my 98, but its my first...!?!?

[68c20lwb]

hello, i have a 98 S10 2.2L reg cab short bed. i would like to do a 3/4 drop? what do i need? coils, blocks, u-bolts. do i need shocks? what are drop spindles and do i need them? please help! i have never done a drop before and especially on an S series. very good explanations are what i need haha, and maybe a few good part numbers or a few good brand names? thanks fellas!!

[thelowone]

In the front you can use either 1"coils with drop spindles or lower control arms and in the back you can either use 4" drop blocks or use 2" drop leaf springs and 2" drop blocks. Drop spindles replace the factory spindles and essentially move the wheel up 2" when you install them. I would go with the spindles and coils up front, and depending if you plan to haul anything or not, I would go with the drop leafs and blocks in the rear it gives you a better ride that way. As far as parts there is belltech and western chassis has a good website and they offer 3" and 4" drop leafs for the rear. Also there is McGaughys and hotchkis. Hope this helps and dosen't add to your confusion.

[68c20lwb]

That was a great explanation, thank you very much!! So with new spindles and drop coils and such, what about alignment issues? Any problems like that?
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[68c20lwb]

Also, I forgot to ask, what about shocks? Do I need those as well?

[thelowone]

There should be no alignment issues when using spindles and coils any good alignment shop should have no problem in realigning your front end. Yes I would go with a drop shock if you are going with a 3" drop or more.

[John Gilbert]

All of the brands mentioned produce a quality product. I used Belltech on my '00 S-10 ten years ago to do a 3/4 drop, and haven't had a problem since. I did a story that's going to appear in the July issue of Street Trucks on refreshing the Belltech Nitro-Drop II lowered shocks all the way around and replacing the stock S-10 coils I cut originally with 1-inch with Belltech's drop coils. The story will show you what's involved including the addition of a rear swaybar.

You will need to re-align after you do the installation, and that's something any good alignment shop can handle.

[68c20lwb]

So I have been looking around for 2" drop leafs, 2" drop blocks, 2" drop spindels, and 1" drop coils. I CANNOT find the 2" drop leafs anywhere! I can find everything else, most of it in DJM I could go belltech if I wanted but I cannot find the leafs. Should I get the shocks from belltech or DJM?
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[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 68c20lwb

So I have been looking around for 2" drop leafs, 2" drop blocks, 2" drop spindels, and 1" drop coils. I CANNOT find the 2" drop leafs anywhere! I can find everything else, most of it in DJM I could go belltech if I wanted but I cannot find the leafs. Should I get the shocks from belltech or DJM?
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Did you check with Belltech direct? As in talk with someone on the phone?

I've only had bad luck with DJM stuff. I just installed Belltech's new Nitro-Drop II shocks on my truck, and they're perfect.

[68c20lwb]

I was just looking at those!!! Will they work on a 1/2 and 3/4? Because I was hoping to do this in 2 stages
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[68C15]

2 stages? that means 2 alignments. I would collect the pats and do it all at the same time.

[68c20lwb]

alright, good suggestion. is a 3/4 too low for a dd? maybe i should do a 1/2?

[thelowone]

No 3/4 is fine for a daily driver shouldn't have any problems, just avoid the big potholes. And as far as the leaf spring issue you could go with a 3" drop leaf and a 1" block in the rear as well.

[68c20lwb]

Is there a way I can see some Pictures of a 1/2, a 2/3 and a 3/4? I know that's a pretty demanding request, but google images isn't really helping me decide.
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[68c20lwb]

Maybe a better questiOn would be what looks best? I'd you don't want it slammed?
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[thelowone]

I would go with the 3/4 drop it will eliminate most of your wheel well gap, and give the truck a nice static stance for a daily driver.

[68c20lwb]

alright, thats what im looking for, elimination of most the wheel well gap. anyone here have a picture of a 3/4 drop on stock rims, 17's or 18's?