98 & Newer Blazer Brake Upgrade 4 The S10

[1950 GMC]

I was reading on AD Engineering’s web site that you can swap over the spindles, rotors & calipers as an assembly from 98 and newer 2wd Blazers. The reason I like this idea is because the rotors are larger, & they have dual piston calipers. From my understanding the spindles are a direct bolt in upgrade, is this true? I'm wanting to install 2" drop spindles does anyone who has done this swap have an item number for the drop spindles? Are Belltech's 2102 the correct drop spindles? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[bjcaldwe]

I look forward to this info as well.

[2ndGenRR]

As I mentioned in your build post, I have done this swap. The Blazer spindle is a direct bolt in. I bought the entire assembly (spindle, bearings, rotors, calipers and all from S10 Warehouse out of FL...I think they only sell through eBay). I'm using a coilover, so I didn't use a drop spindle. Mine sits way low without it...in fact I'm going to have to adjust the coilovers to make it sit a little higher, but that adjustability is the advantage of coilovers when you are running a static front suspension.

[1950 GMC]

2ndGen, your the man. With the info you gave me on my build thread I've decided to do this swap. The only drop spindles that I have found are like 350 bucks double of the S10 spindles. I opened this thread to open it up more people who may not be following my build. Thanks for all your help. You make it much easier.

[Dan Bowles]

Guys, I saw 2ndGenRR's build today and I'll say SWEET. It is definitely an awesome way to go.

Can you give an idea on the cost for all of this?

[1950 GMC]

Does 2ndGenRR have a build thread? I'm chomping at the bit to check it out.

[Dan Bowles]

I'm not sure but if you go to his house...

[2ndGenRR]

Hey Guys - No build thread yet. I suppose I should get out there with the camera and at least take enough pics to make a thread worthwhile. This weekend I have been blowing the whole thing back apart to get everything blasted, so I can start on the sheetmetal and final welding on the chassis. Probably a pretty good time to get a build thread started...

Anyway, it was really cool to meet Dan and his son yesterday...talk about a couple of guys with truckitis!

As far as cost on the blazer spindle and brake swap. S10 Warehouse sells the whole thing for around $300 depending on miles and wear on the parts. You can probably buy it cheaper if you can find it locally, but 2wd blazers are few and far between in MI. I went ahead and replaced the rotors and pads on my setup. So maybe $400 into the whole deal...a lot less than the aftermarket stuff and will provide very sufficient stopping. Oh, and you can buy all the replacement parts at your local auto parts store for cheap.

[Dan Bowles]

There's a guy in Dundee, MI (Dundee Truck and Trim) that is a Chevy truck yard. He does a LOT of S10 V8 swaps and has lots of S10 Blazers that come and go. Are these standard parts on ALL 98 and up or only on the ZR2 or whatever they called them. I know there is one that just came in last month and I can probably get the parts. I just don't know what I need!

The looks of that set up you have just screams handling.

And yep, we have AD Truck ADD! But we just hauled home our 3rd GMT400 today from Jackson and going to fetch another one tomorrow to gut (my Bro in law totaled his in October so we're ripping the seat and stuff out for my '48/51 project)

[2ndGenRR]

The ZR2's were all 4WD so they won't work. You need a 2WD, so any 98' and up 2WD Blazer will work including those with the ZQ8 handling package. If you find a ZQ8, grab the sway bars and lowered rear leafs while you are at it.

On the subject of A-arms, any GM metric arm will work and the G-body arms are usually less expensive for the same exact thing. I have tubular upper and lower control arms, with the lowers being set up for coilovers. I got the SPC lowers from Savitske Classic & Custom (http://www.scandc.com/index.htm). Those were not cheap, but they have some definite design advantages and I wanted to run coilovers for height and ride adjustability. I have a set of the adjustable SPC uppers, but the chassis ended up being for my buddy and he didn't need anything that extreme, so I picked up a lower cost tubular set off of ebay. It will definitely handle and stop beyond anything you will ever need for the street...in other words, he will never approach the limit of their capability.

[Dan Bowles]

Thanks for the tips. I don't know any of the codes. What rear end did you end up with, then? A 2wd one?

[2ndGenRR]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

Thanks for the tips. I don't know any of the codes. What rear end did you end up with, then? A 2wd one?

Yup - I got a 2WD rear out of Blazer that had a V6 and 5-speed. With that engine and trans combo the rear is upgraded to the bigger ring gear...the same stuff this in full size 1/2 ton trucks. Should be a good combo with the 350 TBI I'm running...even if I do have to run spacers.