Tuff Country 12903 User manual

Part # 12903
1988 - 2006 Chevy or GMC 1500 6 lug 4x4
2” front torsion bar key kit
Part # Description Qty.
12903-01 Torsion bar key 2
S10009 Shock spacer sleeve 2
12903INST Instruction Manual 1
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.
Installation Manual
1988 - 2006 Chevy or GMC
6 lug 4x4
2” front torsion bar key kit
Part # 12903
SS08202018
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 @ [phone]. 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.
IMPORTANT!
This kit will NOT work on vehicles equipped with Air
Suspension. If your vehicle is equipped with this type
of suspension, please contact the company you pur-
chased the lift kit from and arrange for returning the
parts.

Limited lifetime warranty
Notice to all Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension cus-
tomers: It is your responsibility to keep your origi-
nal sales receipt! If failure should occur on any Tuff
Country EZ-Ride Suspension component, your origi-
nal sales receipt must accompany the warranted unit
to receive warranty. Warranty will be void if the cus-
tomer can not provide the original sales receipt. Do
not install a body lift in conjunction with a suspension
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 mate-
rial and workmanship for life if purchased, installed
and maintained on a non-commercial vehicle; other-
wise, 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 rep-
resentations 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, main-
tained, used or repaired, or damaged by accident,
negligence, misuse or racing. (“Racing is used in its
broadest sense, and, for example, 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 merchantability, fitness for a
particular purpose or other warranty of quality, wheth-
er 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 distributor 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:
Tuff Country EZ-ride Suspension requires that a prop-
er torsion bar unloading tool be used when performing
this installation. If you do not have one, please contact
your local GM dealership to purchase one from them.
Tuff Country recommends NOT installing the torsion
bar keys in conjunction with another aftermarket
lifted suspension sytem. If the torsion bar keys are
instgalled with another aftermarket lifted suspension
system your warranty will be void.
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:
Torsion bar removal tool
Torque wrench
Standard socket set
Standard wrench set
Metric socket set
Metric wrench set
Tape Measure

Please follow instructions carefully:
Pre Installation measurements:
Driver side front : ____________________________
Passenger side front : ________________________
Front end installation:
1. To begin installation, block the rear tires of the vehicle so
that the vehicle is stable and can’t roll backwards. Safely
lift the front of the vehicle and support both the driver and
passenger side with jack stands. Remove the tires and
wheels from both sides.
2. Working on the driver side, remove the upper shock
mounting hardware and save.
3. Working on the driver side, mark the torsion bar and the
lower control arm. Special Note: this is done so that the
torsion bar can be put back into the same location on
the lower control arm once the new torsion bar key has
been installed.
4. Working on the driver side and using a proper torsion
bar removal tool.Special note: Tuff Country EZ-Ride
Suspension requires that a proper torsion bar unload-
ing tool be used when performing this installation. If
you do not have one, please contgact your local GM
dealer to purchase one from them. Carefully remove the
stock torsion bar bolt and block, and set aside. Remove the
torsion bar unloading tool from the crossmember.
5. Working on the driver side, tap the torsion bar forward
unitil the torsion bar key can be removed.
6. Locate the new torsion bar key and install into the stock
location on the driver side. Tap the torsion bar back into the
torsion bar crossmember until it properly seats into the new
torsion bar key. Special note: Make sure that the line
that was scribed on the torsion bar and the lower con-
trol arm line back up again. Using the torsion bar unload-
ing tool, adjust the new torsion bar key up high enough so
that the stock torsion bar block and bolt can be re-installed.
7. Locate the torsion bar bolt and block and install them
back into the stock location. Special note: Final adjust-
ments will be made at completeion of the install to
achieve specified lift height and equal left to right
balance.
8. Locate a new S10009 shock spacer sleeve and install it
over the top shock stud.

10. Re-install the OE shock using the OE bushings and
hardware.
Repeat steps # 2-10 on the passenger side.
11. Install the tires and wheels and check to make sure
that all steps were performed properly and check again.
Carefully lower the vehicle to the ground.
12. At this time loosen both lower control arm pivot bolts
and lower shock mounting bolt on each side to relieve
bushing preload. Special note: this step is important to
relieve bushing tension, prolong bushing life and allow
easier ride height adjustment.
13. Torque the lower control arm pivot bolts and the lower
shock mounting bolts to factory specification on both sides.
Pre Installation measurements:
Driver side front : ____________________________
Passenger side front : ________________________
Congratulations, installation complete!
After the completion of this installation, Tuff Country
EZ-Ride Suspension recommends taking the vehicle
to an alignment shop and having the proper front end
alignment performed.
Tuff Country Ez-Ride Suspension recommends that a
complete re-torque is done on all the bolts associat-
ed with this suspension system. It is the customers
responsibility to make sure that a re-torque is per-
formed on all hardware associated with this suspen-
sion system after the first 100 miles of the installation.
It is also the customers responsibility to do a complete
re-torque after every 3000 miles or after every offroad
use.