S-10 truck owners have been writing in for ages trying to find ways to make their vehicles more off-road capable, and we've finally got a great answer for them. Diversified Creations in Brighton, Michigan, has a long history of messing with the S-10 pickups and Blazers (and GMC Sonomas and Jimmys) by building hot-rod street and trail trucks with big V-8s stuffed under the hood. The company has finally come out with a unique yet simple solid-axle swap for these mini 4x4s from GM. Since many S-10 owners are budget-minded, the Diversified crew decided that their first offering wouldn't come with high-zoot shocks or coilovers, but rather a simple coil and link suspension kit. Though it requires cutting, welding, and a new front axle, the kit should come in less than the cost of an IFS lift kit.
The secret behind the kit is that it uses a Jeep TJ Wrangler front axle. Though a Dana 30 will work, the best option is to use a Rubicon Dana 44 (available from 2003 to 2006) with low gears and a front selectable locker. Since many aftermarket companies are making axles that are bolt-in replacements for the TJ originals, you can even use Dana 60s and Ford 9-inch axles from select companies. By going to a solid axle, your S-10 will have a greater selection of traction aids, better gearing possibilities, and stronger, more reliable front suspension, steering, and axle components.
1. We started with an '02...
1. We started with an '02 Chevy S-10 Blazer with the ZR2 package. It already had a BDS 5-inch suspension lift and 31-inch tires, but the owner wanted more-more tire, more strength, and more off-road performance.
2. The old suspension kit,...
2. The old suspension kit, while not bad, is like all IFS suspensions in that it has many moving parts. The A-arm can result in alignment and steering issues over time when abused off-road with large tires.
3. Taking an impact gun and...
3. Taking an impact gun and torch to the old suspension is very liberating, but also scary because going back isn't easy. This wasn't the first solid-axle swap that Jeremy Salewsky, head technician at Diversified, had done, so he made short work of cutting the frame mounts for the IFS A-arms.
4. With the chassis cleared,...
4. With the chassis cleared, a template is applied to see where to cut for the spring bucket. A torch or plasma cutter makes this job quick and easy, but be careful if the frame has a thick layer of undercoating or grease so you don't set your truck on fire.
5. The upper coil bucket will...
5. The upper coil bucket will reside in the frame notch. The bucket is made from 3/16-inch-thick steel tubing, and though it will hold the coil, the kit will be fitted with limiting straps to keep the suspension from overextending.
6. A shock mount and gussets...
6. A shock mount and gussets are added to the coil bucket, as is a bumpstop that will attach to the center of the bucket and hang inside the coil. Be sure your welds have good penetration because these are what will hold your frame up off your axle on the trail.