My 98 Blazer LT is in need for a full rebuild on the front. So! I have the hubs, calipers, Rough Country 2.5in lift, and upper control arms. My lower control arms are shot (bushings are gone gone...) and I would like to know if I'm going with the 2.5in lift should I be able to run the ZR2 lower arms? OR can someone give me a good replacement for the lower control arms? I'm on a tight budget which i know is the cardinal sin when buying a used vehicle but 🤷. I know when I pull the shock absorber out of the OEM arm it's going to crumble putting a new bolt back in.

 

Whether to use the ZR2 lower control arms or not sounds like a question best for the nice people at RC. They have been really good about answering questions for me in the past.

However, off the top of my head, for a non-ZR2 Blazer, I don't think there is any reason to use the ZR2 lower control arms. Recall that the ZR2 have longer front drive axles so that you likely wouldn't be able to use your current drive axles.

 

With the RC lift it comes with a differential drop plate. Wonder if that would make up for the axle length. I know it has SLIGHTLY longer tops and needs to be aligned after the lift is installed but I did find lowers on rockauto for 254$ for both sides. I'm going to do the calipers and hubs next week and maybe throw on the torsion (if that's spelled right) keys with the new shock absorbers. The keys should at least let me level off the front end and the new shocks should change the front end bounce. I only drive it maybe a max of 5 miles a day but I'm so sick and tired of hearing it clunk and bang when I go over the pot holes here .

 

Recall that the frame for a ZR2 is different than a non-ZR2, i.e., the attachment points for the upper and lower control arms will be different.

It has been a while, but I don't remember any provision in the installation instructions for swapping in ZR2 lower control arms on a non-ZR2 Blazer.

 

Damn. I was going to say if I have to do the axle swap oh well. But if they have a wider stance of the frame I'm not up for fabrication work on a almost 30 year old vehicle.

 

OK if you have bought the full lift kit, order energy suspension or prothane bushings. Replace lower control arm bushings and buy moog or acdelco ball joints. ACDELCO was being made by Dana/Detroit. Best ball joints ever made if still available. Protease brand is stiffer then energy. Usually more complete though. Axles for ZR2 are for ZR2 only that never ever changes. Lower Control arms the stabilizer bar mounting point is different from what I understand and that's it. Also not needed. The complete RO lift kit is all you need minus any repairs.