Before starting this project, remember that to lower the Chevy S-10, the coil springs and block kit is all that is needed. If it is being lifted, the coil springs and block kit will still be needed, but the shocks will not fit any longer. They will be to too short and a wedge kit will be needed to angle the pinion for preload.
Lift and support the truck on jack stands. Remove the front wheels. Remove the brake caliper and hang it out of the way, then remove the rotor. Be sure not to hang it by the brake hose. Remove the tie rod from the spindle, then remove the shock. Put the floor jack under the lower control arm as far outward as possible (close to the ball joint). Make sure it is seated where it cannot slip. Jack the lower control arm up to close to where it will support the truck--just about to the point that it will lift the truck off of the jack stand. If necessary, jack it up until the truck begins to lift and then let it down just until it rests on the jack stand.
Remove the nut from the upper ball joint. Using a ball joint separator, break it loose. Loosen but do not remove the lower nut (leave it on a few threads). Now break it loose and remove the nut. Lift the upper control arm to remove the ball joint stud from the spindle, then lift the spindle up and place it aside. Do not stand in front of the spring while the tension is being released in case it decides to come out fast. Slowly lower the jack until the lower control arm is all the way down. Pull the coil spring out of the saddle, paying attention to its orientation (look at the top of the spring where the end of the spring is located so it can be installed the same way).
Install the new spring with the top in the same direction as the one that came off. Insert the spring into the hole and push the bottom in as much as possible. Follow these next steps carefully because now the spring must be loaded (compressed), and it can get dangerous if not done with caution. Front coil springs have killed many technicians over the years because they were not cautious.
While the bottom of the springs is being pushed into the saddle in the lower control arm, raise the jack a little at a time--just enough to add a little pressure to the spring so that it doesn't fall out. It must fit into the indentation for the spring. Use a large hammer and hit the bottom of the spring to help it along. Raise the jack and lower control arm as the spring is moving into place. Once the spring is in the saddle, raise the control arm to put a good load on it and install the spindle on the bottom ball joint and start the nut. Bring the upper control arm down, insert the ball joint stud and install the nut. Tighten both nuts. Install the shock and the tie rod end. Make sure the ball joint nuts are tight and have cotter pins. Install the rotor and caliper. Repeat the process on the other side.
Lift and support the vehicle on jack stands under the frame (not the axle). If the Chevy is being lowered, remove the shocks at the axle by using the floor jack to raise each side a little, and remove the shock. Remove the U-bolt nuts on both sides and the U-bolts. Put the jack in the center of the axle and lift it just enough to take the weight off the springs. Place the lowering blocks between the axle and the spring, making sure that the hole in the block fits into the stud on the spring and the stud on the block fits into the hole in the base of the axle. This is for alignment and to keep the axle from turning. Install the new U-bolts and nuts into the lower bracket.
If the truck is being lifted, remove the shocks the same way. Remove the U-bolts from the drive shaft and remove the drive shaft just from the pinion. Remove the U-bolts and bottom bracket. Remove the rear brake lines and cap them to prevent fluid loss. Remove the emergency brake cable. Lift the axle up with some help and remove it from the vehicle. Push the axle under the springs. Install the upper block on top of the spring and make sure that it fits into the stud on the spring. Place the axle on the floor jack and lift it slightly. Raise the axle enough to place the large lifting blocks on the top, and sandwich them in between the spring and axle. Place the proper wedge plate in between the axle and the bottom plate. Make sure that the stud on the wedge plate fits into the hole in the axle and into the bottom plate. Install the U-bolts and tighten loosely. Before drawing down on the U-bolts, make sure that all holes are aligned and that the wedge is sufficient to give 1.5 to 3 degrees of pinion preload or angle. Tighten the U-bolts and install the new shocks. Install the emergency brake line and the hydraulic brake lines.
