Brady,
Speaking from some personal "seat time" experience, I'd like to offer a couple of comments:
1. In answer to your "lowered" shock question, an unqualified
"YES!" Any time you change the suspension travel without changing the size/design/damping rate of the shock to match, you're asking for a bouncing, unsafe ride. A few years ago, I almost bought a 1994 Mazda B2300 pickup truck (got traded in on the used car lot at the F*rd dealer where I worked). It was dropped about 4" all around using dropped I-beams and coils in the front and an axle flip kit in the rear.
darn but that little truck looked cool...unfortunately, it rode like a haywagon because the guy cheaped out and retained the stock shock absorbers all the way around. Long story short, whatever supplier you use for your lowered springs will be able to supply recommendations as to matching "drop" shocks-use 'em.
2. My younger sister's fiance has a 1991 Chevy S-10 which he uses as a shop truck for his custom body/paint business. It's lowered 2" front and 3" back, using drop springs in the front and lowering blocks in the rear. A couple of short rides in it with him convinced me that lowered spindles would have been the way to go-that little truck rides "rough," by the seat of my pants. He also says he wished he'd spent the extra few bucks to buy spindles over what it cost him to buy lowered coils, just for the ride.
3. Last point-I may not agree with what Bone Stock Lincoln posted about modified vehicles, however I
DEFINATELY agree with his points about unsafe operation or modification of the vehicles. I also feel that if you are modifying your truck, spending the dough for the right parts as opposed to just hacking a coil is a smart choice. By your postings it sounds as if you're a younger fellow, please be safe and stick around long enough to get some grey hairs! Best of luck and much enjoyment with your project.
Regards,
Wannabe
