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BDS Suspension Lift Kit Installation on my Chevy S10 Blazer

In 2007 the time was right: My Chevy should “Grow Up”

Jason, Jeremy, Steve and Jim, OK4WD Stewartsville, New Jersey

The Dollar exchange rate was good and so I started looking around for a suitable lift kit. Soon I discovered, that there were not too many kits available for this vehicle. The only reasonable lifts were the Trailmaster and the BDS suspension. All other would change the original driveline geometry and would eat up the ball joints. After a long search I found a mechanic who was willing to do the job within the very tough timeline of 3 days: OK4WD in Stewartsville, New Jersey!

It took only a couple of e-mails with Jim, the owner, until I knew these guys know what they are talking about! So I arranged everything from Germany, made the appointment with Jason and organized the pre-payment to avoid running into my credit card limit.

88 S10 Blazer Original at OK4WD

Finally the big day has come and I was standing in front of the shop. Just took the last picture of my little truck in the original version before they started the installation.

Robert with his rental 2007 Chevy Silverado

But before that I needed a rental car. Unfortunately all small cars where gone and so I had to take this very small truck.

While I was taking care about the rental car stuff, Jeremy already started to work on my truck and prepared everything for the big work. The next day it was time for the front axle to leave. First, he had to remove the disc brakes. As they were pretty much done we decided to put new ones on as everything was apart anyway.

Jeremy Loosing the Disc Brakes

Jeremy Removing the Disc Brakes

Jeremy Removing the Skid Plate

After a couple of strong strikes he got the discs loose and was able to access the axle, which also has to be removed. It looks like it was going to be a whole bunch of work.

The axles were now clear, so the next was the steering stuff. First my nice skid plate had to be removed. Unfortunately everything in the front will be changed, so I was not be able to re-use it - and I was so proud finding it at the junk yard a couple of years ago.

Back to the axles, the carrier with the torsion bars were the next parts to leave the truck. Right now I was wondering, will there any part stay on this truck ?

Jeremy Removing the Torsion Bars

Jeremy Removing Mounts

But what was going on now ?
Jeremy approached with the welding stuff - we had to remove some old mounts, he said. The new kit had its own mounts on the drop bracket. This was the point of no return and I said: “Go!”

After the welding work, the last pieces have to be removed by an electrical metal saw - doesn’t this look scary ?
If this truck will ever drive again ?

Jeremy Removing Mounts

Jeremy Testing the New Mount

After all this destructive work, we were finally back to actually putting parts into the truck. It's time to check if the new drop bracket fits and everything was cut out properly. What shall I say - it fitted on the first try!

Jeremy Removing Mounts

Jeremy Testing the New Mount

Now we try the main carrier - and everything looks great!

And I thought the cutting was over, but there was still a mount in our way on the front differential. Jeremy took the metal saw and we got rid of this part.

The next day it was time to assemble the front back together. We started with putting in the brand new shocks. I am wondering how long they will keep the white color.

Jeremy Mounting the Shocks

Jeremy Mounting the Axle

Jeremy Mounting the Upper Carrier

The next part was the axle to go back into the truck.

The upper carrier had to be convinced by the hammer to fit into the bracket, but finally he gave in.

Jeremy Mounting the Leaf Springs

Jeremy Greasing the New Parts

Jeremy Mounting the Brakes

Finally only the brakes were missing to complete the assembling of the front.

Just a little bit of greasing and the front suspension is finished so far. Don't the new brakes look shiny ?

Now it's time to look at the rear end and to do the spring over conversion. After fighting a couple of rusted nuts and bolts, we were able to mount them again.

The last day Jason took over as Jeremy had this day off. First, he assembled the Eaton Locker together.

Jason Assembling the Eaton Locker

Jason Mounting the Eaton Locker

Jason Reshaping the Exhaust

After everything was assembled my new Eaton locking differential had to go into the differential housing - convinced by a few strikes with the hammer.

To get the front drive shaft connected again to the front differential, the exhaust had to be lowered. When doing that, Jason bent it a bit more, so the future transmission oil change should be easier. Thanks for that!

After three days my truck was eventually back on his own “feet”. Wow, now I got ground clearance!

Vohn Building a Custom Skid Plate

Vohn Adjusting Torsion Bars

88 S10 Blazer at OK4WD

Now it was time to adjust steering and torsion bars. We also replaced the O2-Sensor, as I got a code when driving from Pittsburgh to Stewartsville.

Unfortunately the new front skid plate from BDS did not cover enough of the front differential. All the cables and vacuum hoses were in danger to be torn away when offroading. So Vohn extended the original skid plate to cover also the second half of the front. I really appreciated this extra work!

88 S10 Blazer at OK4WD

88 S10 Blazer Original at OK4WD

After three days of hard work the lift kit was installed, brakes were all new, the Eaton Locker was installed, all axle and differential bearings replaced, the O2 sensor replaced and a custom skid plate made. Take a look at my truck before and after the work: