Tuff Country 10968 User manual
Part # 10968
2019- Current GM 1500 Upper Control Ams
Part # Description Qty.
14199-01 Driver side upper control arm 1
14199-02 Passenger side upper control arm 1
10968NB Hardware bag 1
Hardware Bag 14199NB
Part# Description Qty.
M02617-BK-01 Poly bushing 8
S10232 Large diameter washer 4
S10239 .815” x .560” x 2.45” sleeve 4
SERT06 90° grease fitting 4
14UN 1/4” unitorque nut 2
14WA 1/4” flat washer 2
Installation Manual
2019 - Current GM 1500
Upper Control arms
Part # 10968
zs12012022
Congratulations on your selection to purchase a Tuff
Country EZ-Ride Suspension System. We at Tuff
Country EZ-Ride Suspension are proud to offer a high
quality product at the industries most competitive
pricing. Thank you for your confidence in us and our
product.
The Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension product safety
label that is included in your kit box must be installed
inside the cab in plain view of all occupants.
For a list of parts, please refer to the back of the instal-
lation manual for photos of parts that are included in
this suspension system.
Make sure to use thread locker or loctite on all new
and stock hardware associated with the installation of
this suspension system.
After the completion of the installation, a front end
alignment is required.
Important customer information:
Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension highly recommends
that a qualified or a certified mechanic performs this
installation.
It is the responsibility of the customer/installer to
wear safety glasses at all times when performing this
installation.
It is the customers/installers responsibility to read and
understand all steps before installation begins. If you
have any questions or concerns, please contact our
technical department @ (801) 280-2777. Also, the OEM
manual should be used as a reference guide.
This vehicles reaction and handling characteris-
tics may differ from standard cars and/or trucks.
Modifications to improve and/or enhance off road
performance may raise the intended center of gravity.
Extreme caution must be utilized when encountering
driving conditions which may cause vehicle imbal-
ance or loss of control. DRIVE SAFELY! Avoid abrupt
maneuvers: such as sudden sharp turns which could
cause a roll over, resulting in serious injury or death.
It is the customers responsibility to make sure that
a re-torque is performed on all hardware associated
with this suspension system after the first 100 miles
of installation. It is also the customers responsibility
to do a complete re-torque after every 3000 miles or
after every off road use.
After the original installation, Tuff Country EZ-Ride
Suspension also recommends having the alignment
checked every 6 months to ensure proper tracking,
proper wear on tires and front end components. Tuff
Country EZ-Ride Suspension takes no responsibility
for abuse, improper installation or improper suspen-
sion maintenance.
Limited lifetime warranty
Notice to all Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension cus-
tomers: It is your responsibility to keep your orig-
inal sales receipt! If failure should occur on any
Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension component, your
original sales receipt must accompany the warranted
unit to receive warranty. Warranty will be void if the
customer can not provide the original sales receipt.
Do not install a body lift in conjunction with a sus-
pension system. If a body lift is used in conjunction
with any Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension product,
your Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension WARRANTY
WILL BE VOID. Tuff Country Inc. (“Tuff Country” )
suspension products are warranted to be free from
defects in material and workmanship for life if pur-
chased, installed and maintained on a non-commer-
cial vehicle; otherwise, for a period of twelve (12)
months, from the date of purchase and installation
on a commercial vehicle, or twelve thousand (12,000)
miles (which ever occurs first). Tuff Country does not
warrant or make any representations concerning Tuff
Country Products when not installed and used strictly
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
for such installation and operation and accordance
with good installation and maintenance practices of
the automotive industry. This warranty does not apply
to the cosmetic finish of Tuff Country products nor
to Tuff Country products which have been altered,
improperly installed, maintained, used or repaired, or
damaged by accident, negligence, misuse or racing.
(“Racing is used in its broadest sense, and, for exam-
ple, without regards to formalities in relation to prizes,
competition, etc.) This warranty is void if the product
is removed from the original vehicle and re-installed
on that or any other vehicle. This warranty is exclusive
and is in lieu of any implied warranty of merchantabi-
lity, fitness for a particular purpose or other warranty
of quality, whether express or implied, except the
warranty of title. All implied warranties are limited to
the duration of this warranty. The remedies set forth
in this warranty are exclusive. This warranty excludes
all labor charges or other incidental of consequential
damages. Any part or product returned for warranty
claim must be returned through the dealer of the dis-
tributor from whom it was purchased. Tuff Country
reserves the right to examine all parts returned to it
for warranty claim to determine whether or not any
such part has failed because of defect in material or
workmanship. The obligation of Tuff Country under
this warranty shall be limited to repairing, replacing
or crediting, at its option, any part or product found
to be so defective. Regardless of whether any part
is repaired, replaced or credited under this warranty,
shipping and/or transportation charges on the return
of such product must be prepaid by the customer
under this warranty. Important information that needs
to be read before installation begins:
Before installation begins, Tuff Country EZ-Ride
Suspension highly recommends that the installer
performs a test drive on the vehicle. During the test
drive, check to see if there are any uncommon sounds
or vibrations. If uncommon sounds or vibrations
occur on the test drive, uncommon sounds or vibra-
tions will be enhanced once the suspension system
has been installed. Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension
highly recommends notifying the customer prior to
installation to inform the customer of these issues if
they exist.
This Suspension kit comes with (1) installation manual
and some post installation procedure literature and it
is the installers responsibility to make sure that the
customer receives the post installation procedure
literature. If a customer would like a copy of the instal-
lation manual, please have them visit our website at
www.tuffcountry.com. Have them go to the customer
care section to download these instructions. If you
have any questions, please feel free to call us at (801)
280-2777.
Recommended tool selection:
Jack stands
Torque wrench
Standard socket set
Standard wrench set
Metric socket set
Metric wrench set
Hydraulic floor jacks
Actual Parts may vary slightly from the parts in theseActual Parts may vary slightly from the parts in these
photographs.photographs.
Please follow instructions carefully:
Front end installation:
1. Block the rear tires. Raise the front of the vehicle and
support the vehicle with jack stands, so that the front
wheels are off the ground.
2. Remove the front tires and wheels.
3. Working on the driver side, remove the ABS wire harness
mount from the steering knuckle.
4. Remove the lower control arm mounting bolts and hard-
ware and save.
5. Working on the lower strut mount, remove the 2 bolts
that attach it to the lower control arm. Special note: when
these bolts are out, be careful that the lower control
arm doesn’t drop and swing away too fast and damage
anything.
6. Now move to the upper strut mount and remove the 3
nuts that attach the strut to the mount while holding onto the
strut so it doesn’t drop out.
7. Once upper hardware is removed, carefully remove the
strut from the vehicle and set aside
8. Move back to the lower control arm and re-install it into
its mounting pockets using the OE bolts. No need to tight-
en the bolts, they are just to hold it in place for now.
9. Remove the ABS wire harness mounting bracket from
the upper control arm and pull aside.
10. Using a oor jack or suitable tool, support the lower
control arm so that the front suspension cannot drop down.
11. Remove the nut from the upper ball joint where it at-
taches to the steering knuckle. Carefully separate the ball
joint from the knuckle by striking the steering knuckle with a
hammer like seen in the photo below.
12. Remove the 2 bolts and hardware that attach the upper
control arm to the vehicle, and remove the OE upper control
arm.
13. Locate the new Driver side upper control arm, also locate
(4) Polyurethane bushings, (2) crush sleeves, and (2) grease
ttings. Using a polyurethane compatible grease, apply a
healthy amount on the bushings and crush sleeves, then in-
stall into the new upper control arms.
14. Carefully install the grease ttings into the threaded holes
of the upper control arms. Be careful to not over tighten
these as they are made of brass and can easily strip out.
15. Locate (2) new large diameter washers
16. Install the new upper control arm using the OE bolts and
nuts, make sure to add the new large diameter washers
on the outside of each eyelet like you see in the photo
below
17. Torque upper control arm bolts to 95 ft lbs.
18. Carefully attach the upper balljoint to the steering knuckle
using the newly provided ange nut. Torque ange nut to
65 ft lbs.
19. Re install strut back into upper strut mount with OE hard-
ware. Keep the OE hardware loose for now.
20. Carefully raise up the lower control arm so that the lower
strut mounting points are lined up and install the OE hard-
ware. Leave loose for now.
21. Re-install the OE lower control arm adjusting bolts in the
same orientation that they were removed. Leavr Loose for
now.
22. Move back to the strut lower mounting hardware that
were installed on STEP #20 and Torque to 55 ft lbs.
23. Move back to the upper strut mounting hardware and
torque all (3) to 45 ft lbs
24. Locate (1) 1/4” unitorque nut, and (1) 1/4” at washer,
and install the ABS wire harness mount onto the welded stud
of the new upper control arm.
25. Using the OE bolt, install the ABS wire sensor bracket to
the top of the steering knuckle
Repeat steps 3-25 on the Passenger side of the
vehicle
26. Make sure to go around and hit any new grease tting
with some polyurethane compatible grease.
27. Re-install the tires and wheels and torque to vehicle man-
ufacturer, or wheel manufacturer specs.
28. Carefully lower the front of the vehicle back on to the
ground, and remove the jacks.
29. Move back to the lower control arm mounting bolts, ad-
just them back to the OE position for now, and Torque to
100 ft lbs
Installation Complete!
Check and double check to make sure that all steps
were performed properly. After the completion of this
install, Tuff Country Recommends taking the vehicle in
for a complete front end alignment.
Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension recommends that a
complete re-torque is done on all bolts associated with
this suspension system. It is the customers responsi-
bility to make sure that a re-torque is performed on all
hardware associated with the system after the first 100
miles of installation. It is also the Customers responsi-
bility to do a complete re-torque after every 3,000 miles
or after every off road use. Neglect of following these
steps could cause brackets to come loose and cause
serious damage to the suspension system and to the
vehicle.
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