Tuff Country 14830 - GM 92-98 Suburban K1500 4 User Manual
Page 4
 
outer tie rod ball joint. Special Note: Take special care 
not to rip or tear the stock outer tie rod ball joint dust 
boot. 
 
19. Working on the driver side, move back to the stock 
nuts holding the upper control arm ball joint, the lower 
control arm ball joint and the outer tie rod ball joint to the 
stock steering knuckle and remove completely. Save the 
stock hardware for later re-installation. 
 
20. Working on the driver side, use a suitable removal 
tool to remove the stock axle from the stock hub 
assembly. Special Note: Take special care not to 
damage the stock threads on the stock axle. 
 
21. Carefully remove the stock hub assembly and the 
stock steering knuckle from the stock location. 
 
22. Working on the driver side stock hub assembly, 
remove the (3) stock bolts that connect the stock hub 
assembly to the stock steering knuckle. Save the stock 
hardware and stock hub assembly for later re-installation. 
A new steering knuckle is used, the stock steering 
knuckle can be discarded. 
 
23. Locate the new driver side steering knuckle. Using 
the stock hardware that was removed from step # 22, 
secure the new driver side steering knuckle to the stock 
hub assembly. Torque to 92 ft lbs. Special Note: Make 
sure to use thread locker or lock tite. 
 
24. Set the new driver side steering knuckle and hub 
assembly a side for later re-installation. 
 
25. Working on the driver side, scribe a mark on the CV 
plate and another directly across to the stock differential, 
this will allow you to re-install the stock CV back into the 
stock location at a later step. 
See Illustration # 4
 
26. Working on the driver side, unbolt and remove the (6) 
stock bolts holding the inner CV to the stock differential. 
Save the stock hardware and the stock front axles for 
later re-installation. 
 
27. Working on the driver side, remove the stock front 
and rear hardware that connects the stock lower control 
arm to the stock front and rear location. Save the stock 
hardware for later re-installation. Set the stock lower 
control arm a side for later re-installation. 
 
28. Repeat step’s 13 - 27 on the passenger side. 
 
29. Working on the driver side, locate the stock lower 
bracket that wraps around the rear lower half of the stock 
front differential. Remove the stock bolt that connects the 
lower portion of the stock front differential to the stock 
bracket. Save the stock hardware for later re-installation. 
Using the stock mounting point on the rear lower control 
arm as a reference point, measure 3” towards the inside 
of the vehicle and scribe a line on the stock bracket that 
wraps around the rear portion of the stock front 
differential. Using a hacksaw or suitable cutting tool, cut 
along the line that was scribe earlier in this step. Special 
Note: Tuff Country recommends not using a cutting 
torch when performing step # 29. Clean and dress up 
any exposed metal. 
See Illustration # 5
 
30
.
Locate the new one-piece lower sub frame and the
stock lower control arm hardware that was removed in 
step # 27. Working on the driver side, install the front and 
rear part of the new one-piece lower sub frame into the 
stock front and rear lower control arm stock pockets and 
secure using stock hardware. Do not tighten at this 
point. Make sure to use thread locker or lock tite. 
Repeat procedure on passenger side.
See Illustration # 6 / Front Location
See Illustration # 7 / Rear Location
31. Place a pair of hydraulic floor jacks under the front 
differential. Place one on the driver side and one and the 
passenger side. Carefully raise up on both hydraulic floor 
jacks at the same time until the come in contact with the 
front differential. 
 
32. Working on the drivers side, remove the stock upper 
bolt that connects the stock front differential into the stock 
upper location and save the stock hardware for later re-
installation. Special Note: The front driver side upper 
stock mounting point is up high and difficult to see. 
 
33. On the passenger side, remove the (2) stock nuts 
that hold the passenger side of the front differential into 
the stock location and save the stock hardware for later 
re-installation. 
 
34. Disconnect the stock vent hoses on the front 
differential. 
 
35. Locate the stock rear driver side differential mounting 
bracket hardware that was removed from step # 29. 
Carefully lower down on both hydraulic floor jacks at the 
same time, until the rear portion of the front differential 
seat properly into the previously installed lower one-piece 
sub frame. Secure using the stock hardware. Do not 
tighten at this point. Make sure to use thread locker 
or lock tite. 
See Illustration # 8
36. Carefully remove both hydraulic floor jack from under 
the front differential. 
 
37. On the driver side of the stock front differential upper 
tab, measure 2” from the stock mounting point and scribe 
a mark on the front differential. Using a sawzall, cut the 
upper tab off of the stock front differential and discard.  
See Illustration # 9
38. Locate the new driver side differential relocation