Tuff Country 32102 User manual
Part # 32102
2009 - 2018Dodge Ram 1500 4WD
(Except Mega-Cab)
2.5” Suspension System
Part # Description Qty.
32902-01 Front Strut Spacers 2
32102-01 Front Bump Stop Bracket 2
32102-02 Rear Coil Spring Spacer 2
32102NB Hardware bag 1
D2P-NB Hardware bag 1
32102INST Instruction manual 2
MIRRORHANGER Rear view mirror hanger 1
WARNINGDECAL Warning decal 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 pric-
ing. Thank you for your confidence in us and our prod-
uct.
If you desire to return your vehicle to stock, it is the
customers responsibility to save all stock hardware
and components.
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.
Special note: Before installation begins, it is the
customers/installers responsibility to make sure that
all parts are on hand. If any parts are missing, please
feel free to call one of our customer service represen-
tatives @ (801) 280-2777.
Recommended tools selection:
Torque wrench
Standard socket set
Standard wrench set
Metric socket set
Metric wrench set
Tape measure
Hydraulic floor jacks
Installation manual
2.5” suspension system
2009 - 2018Dodge Ram 1500 4WD
(Except Mega-Cab)
Part # 32102
sj02272013rev.01
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 instal-
lation.
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 characteristics
may differ from standard cars and/or trucks.
Modifications to improve and/or enhance off road per-
formance may raise the intended center of gravity.
Extreme caution must be utilized when encountering
driving conditions which may cause vehicle imbalance
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
customers: It is your responsibility to keep your
original 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 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
material and workmanship for life if purchased,
installed and maintained on a non-commercial 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
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, 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 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 recommends a 35” x 11.50” tire with a wheel
that has a back spacing of 5.5” or less. The stock tires and
wheels can be used in conjunction with this lift kit. If a wider
tire is installed on the stock wheel, contact with the upper
control arm will occur, and is not recommended.
Please be aware that some Dodge Ram owners may experi-
ence a vibration in the front end or a violent shaking vibra-
tion of the front wheels when going over a bump at certain
speeds. This is due to the front differential and suspension
when Dodge Ram trucks are in 4x4 mode. These two symp-
toms are often lumped together and called a "death wobble"
however it is actually two different problems with the Ram
Truck.
The 4HI mode vibration is a vibration or shudder that occurs
when accelerating in 4x4 high mode. This symptom appears
isolated to 2006-2013 1500 non-Mega Cab model trucks and
only when in 4-hi mode. Dodge could not discover why their
stock trucks would do this for some customers and not oth-
ers so the final official statement from Dodge was that there
is no problem and that all of the new Rams will shudder or
shake when in 4x4 high.
Therefore, after installing this kit on your Dodge Ram truck,
if you experience either of the two symptoms mentioned
above, Tuff Country recommends two options. 1). Remove
the kit from the vehicle and send it back to the company you
purchased it from for a full refund or 2). Install High angle CV
joints that will stabilize the factory vehicles issues.
Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension highly recommends that a
copy of the rear view mirror hanger, the warning decal and a
copy of the installation manual are given to the customer
once the installation is completed and the customer picks up
their vehicle.
The OE rear shocks will be long enough once this suspen-
sion system has been installed but Tuff Country highly rec-
ommends replacing the rear shocks. If you have not already
ordered your rear shocks, please contact Tuff Country or
your local Tuff Country dealer and order your new rear
shocks. Tuff Country recommends install a 26” fully extend-
ed nitrogen gas shock.
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
vibrations 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.
Make sure to use loctite on all new and stock hardware asso-
ciated with the installation of this suspension system.
Hardware bag 32102NB includes:
Description Quantity
32102-03 (Speciality washer) 2
124B (1/2” x 4” bolt) 2
716WA (7/16” USS flat washer) 4
12UN (1/2” unitorque nut) 2
716112B (7/16” x 1 1/2” bolt) 2
38WA (3/8” USS flat washer) 4
716UN (7/16” unitorque nut) 2
516WA (5/16” USS flat washer) 2
38NLN (3/8” nylon nut) 2
PB6052 (poly bump stop) 2
ZIPTIE (Zip tie) 2
Hardware bag D2P-NB includes:
Description Quantity
516WA (5/16” USS flat washer) 6
38NLN (3/8” nylon nut) 6
Please follow instructions carefully:
Before installation begins, measure from the center of
the hub, to the bottom of the fender well, and record
measurements below.
Pre-installation measurements:
Driver side front:_________________________________
Passenger side front:_____________________________
Driver side rear:__________________________________
Passenger side rear:______________________________
At the end of the installation take the same
measurements and compare to the pre-installation
measurements.
Post-installation measurements:
Driver side front:_________________________________
Passenger side front:_____________________________
Driver side rear:_________________________________
Passenger side rear:______________________________
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 the vehicle with a pair of
jack stands. Place a jack stand on both the driver and the
passenger side. Next, remove the front wheels and tires
from both sides.
2. Working on the driver side, place a hydraulic floor under
the lower control arm and carefully raise up on the hydraulic
floor jack until it makes contact with the lower control arm.
Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
3. Working on the driver side, remove the sway bar end link
hardware that attached the sway bar end link to the lower
control arm. Save the hardware. Special note: To help
make removal easier, place a wrench or a pair of needle
nose vise grips on the end link so the end link does not
spin. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
4. Working on the driver side, remove the hardware that
attaches the coil over to the lower control arm. Save the
hardware. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
5. Working on the driver side, place a reference mark on the
cam washer and cam stops that attach the lower control arm
to the front and rear lower control arm mounts. Repeat pro-
cedure on the passenger side.
6. Working on the driver side, remove the hardware that
attaches the lower control arm to the front and rear lower
control arm mounts. Save the hardware. Repeat procedure
on the passenger side. Special note: Let the lower control
arms hang and rest on the hydraulic floor jacks.
7. Working on the driver side, remove the (3) nuts that attach
the coil over into the upper location. Save the hardware.
Remove and set the coil over aside. Repeat procedure on
the passenger side.
8. Install the new front spacers on the coil overs using the
OE hardware. Make sure to use loctite and torque to 32 ft
lbs.
9. Locate (6) 3/8 nylon nuts and (6) 5/16” USS flat washers
from hardware bag D2P-NB. Working on the driver side,
install the newly modified coil over into the upper location
and secure using the new hardware. Make sure to use loc-
tite and torque to 32 ft lbs. Repeat procedure on the pas-
senger side.
10. Working on the driver side, install the lower portion of the
coil over to the lower control arm using the OE hardware. Do
not tighten at this point. Repeat procedure on the passenger
side.
11. Working on the driver side, install the lower control arm
into the front and rear lower control arm pockets using the
OE hardware. Make sure to use loctite, refer back to the
marks that were scribed on the cam washer and cam stops
and torque the front and rear mounting hardware to 105 ft
lbs. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
12. Locate the new front bump stop brackets. Also, locate (2)
poly bump stops, (2) 3/8” nylon nuts and (2) 5/16” USS flat
washers from hardware bag 32102NB. Install the new bump
stops to the new bump stop brackets and secure using the
new hardware. Make sure to use loctite and torque to 24 ft
lbs.
13. Locate (2) 32102-03 specialty washers, (2) 1/2” x 4”
bolts, (4) 7/16” USS flat washers and (2) 1/2” unitorque nuts
from hardware bag 32102NB. Working on the driver side,
install the bump stop bracket to the frame rail under the rear
portion of the upper control arm (hole provided) and secure
using the new hardware. Special note, the specialty wash-
er will be installed on the inside of the frame rail. Also,
the special washer will fit into the dimple on the inside
of the frame rail. Make sure to use loctite and torque to 65
ft lbs. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
15. Remove the hydraulic floor jacks from under the lower
control arms and check and double check to make sure all
steps were performed properly on the front end.
Special note: The lower sway bar end link will not be
attached to the lower control arm until the rear installa-
tion is complete and the vehicle is on the ground.
16. Install the tires and wheels and lower the front of the
vehicle to the ground.
17. To begin rear installation, carefully block the front tires
and wheels so that the vehicle can not roll forward. Safely lift
the rear of the vehicle and support the vehicle with a pair of
jack stands. Place a jack stand on both the driver and the
passenger side. Next, remove the rear wheels and tires from
both sides.
18. Place a pair of hydraulic floor jacks under the rear differ-
ential. Place one on the driver side and one on the passen-
ger side.
19. Working on the driver side, remove the shock from the
axle mount only. Save the hardware and let the shock hang.
Repeat procedure on the passenger side. The OE rear
shocks will be long enough once this suspension sys-
tem has been installed but Tuff Country highly recom-
mends replacing the rear shocks. If you have not already
ordered your rear shocks, please contact Tuff Country
or your local Tuff Country dealer and order your new
rear shocks. Tuff Country recommends install a 26” fully
extended nitrogen gas shock.
20. Working on the driver side, remove the sway bar end link
from the sway bar. Save the hardware and repeat procedure
on the passenger side.
14. Locate the (2) zip ties in hardware bag 32102NB.
Working on the driver side, zip tie the ABS line to the upper
control arm so that ABS line does not get pinched between
the upper control arm and the newly installed bump stop
bracket. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
21. Working on the driver side, remove the track bar from the
track bar location. Save the hardware.
22. Carefully lower down on both hydraulic floor jacks allow-
ing enough room for the rear coil spring to be removed.
Working on the driver side, remove the rear coil spring and
set aside. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
23. Locate the new rear coil springs spacers. Also, locate (2)
7/16” x 1 1/2” bolts, (4) 3/8” USS flat washers and (2) 7/16”
unitorque nuts from hardware bag 32102NB. Working on the
driver side, install the new 7/16” bolt into the upper coil
spring bucket. Hole provided. Then install the new rear coil
springs spacer into the upper coil spring bucket and secure
using the new hardware. Make sure to use loctite and torque
to 42 ft lbs. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
24. Working on the driver side, install the coil spring back
into the OE location. Make sure that the OE rubber isolator
is installed with the coil spring. Carefully raise up on the
hydraulic floor jack until the coil spring seats properly into the
lower axle. Repeat procedure on the passenger side.
25. Install the track bar to the OE track bar mount and secure
using the OE hardware. Make sure to use loctite and torque
to 85 ft lbs.
26. Working on the driver side, install the end link to the sway
bar and secure using the OE hardware. Make sure to use
loctite and torque to 40 ft lbs. Repeat procedure on the pas-
senger side.
27. Working on the driver side, install the lower shock to the
lower mount using the OE hardware. Make sure to use loc-
tite and torque to 85 ft lbs. Repeat procedure on the pas-
senger side. The OE rear shocks will be long enough
once this suspension system has been installed but Tuff
Country highly recommends replacing the rear shocks.
If you have not already ordered your rear shocks, please
contact Tuff Country or your local Tuff Country dealer
and order your new rear shocks. Tuff Country recom-
mends install a 26” fully extended nitrogen gas shock.
28. Remove the hydraulic floor jacks from under the rear dif-
ferential.
29. Check and double check to make sure all steps were
performed properly on the rear end. Install the tires and
wheels and carefully lower the vehicle to the ground.
30. With the weight of the vehicle on the ground and work-
ing on the drivers side, install the front lower end link to the
lower control arm using the OE hardware. Make sure to use
loctite and torque to 40 ft lbs. Repeat procedure on the pas-
senger side.
Congratulations, installation complete!
Special note: After the completion of the installation,
Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension recommends taking
the vehicle to an alignment shop and having a proper
front end alignment performed.
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 responsibil-
ity 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. Neglect of follow-
ing these steps could cause brackets to come loose and
cause serious damage to the suspension system and to
the vehicle.
Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension highly recommends
that a copy of the rear view mirror hanger, the warning
decal and a copy of the installation manual are given to
the customer once the installation is completed and the
customer picks up their vehicle.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free
to contact Tuff Country or your local Tuff Country deal-
er.
32902-01 / Qty (2)
DS & PS Upper Strut Spacer
32102-01 / Qty (2)
Front bump stop brackets
32102-02 / Qty (2)
Rear coil spring spacer
Other Tuff Country Other manuals
