Yeah, you're right. I was thinking of when I replaced both. Which I need to do on my '95, actually.

 

It's all good. I just did a lift on a friend's truck Friday so its all still fresh in my head.

 

The cheap shocks I used, Gabriel, have a lifetime warranty.
It only takes about a hour to replace all four shocks, so even though they wont last as long as the $400 shocks, who cares?
Your next set it free, and the set after that, and after that, and...

 

If I'm going to replace the front shocks (which are in horrible condition), should I also just bite the bullet and replace the rear shocks?

 

^ yes do all four and be done with it. The rears are very easy to replace, the only 'special tool' that would be helpful is a pipe wrench to keep the shock from spinning.

 

Didn't have to remove spring on my 95, just have to have the correct tools and patience.

 

Yes, replace all four shocks at the same time.

 

Fish if we are just doing a 2 inch lift what shock lengths should we be running?

 

If you're not going to go crazy with articulation, removing swaybars, cones, running eye to eye shocks, etc., then any of the +2" lift shocks would work. Terra Firma, OME, Bilstein are all pretty good. Pro Comp are cheap and people either love them or hate them. There's a rumor that Ironman are good but I don't know anybody running them. If you get OME be sure to get the ones with the "L" suffix, they're longer. Otherwise the standard OME's are really short and a waste of money in my opinion.

 

I would do springs and shocks all at once. If springs are original they are worn and sagging and bumps and cornering will cause squeaks and such. I love my terra firma medium duty kit came with coils and shocks and 2" of height. got whole kit for like 420$. First time to ever touch coil suspension and it took me, buddie and dad 10 hrs to do all suspension pieces though that's total labor time. I busted a rear upper shock mount and had to wait a day and half for pt schram to send me some used ones at a great price but besides that sheared bolt job went easy peasy. Just soak everything in pb blaster day or two before job till u start it.