Tuff Country 16830 - GM 92-98 K1500 Suburban and 2-door Tahoe 6 kit User Manual
Page 10
 
80. Working on the driver side, remove the stock sway 
bar end link from the stock location. The stock sway bar 
end link may be discarded. Save the stock hardware for 
later re-installation. Repeat procedure on the passenger 
side. 
 
81. Working on the driver side, remove the stock shock 
and save the stock hardware for later re-installation. 
Longer shocks are needed, so the stock shocks may be 
discarded. Special Note: Shocks are not included with 
this suspension system and need to be ordered as a 
separate part number, Tuff Country EZ-Ride 
Suspension recommends using a 30” fully extended 
nitrogen gas shocks. Repeat procedure on passenger 
side. 
 
82. Working on the driver side, remove the (2) stock rear 
U-bolts and discard. Set the upper and lower U-bolt 
plates a side for later re-installation. Repeat procedure on 
passenger side 
 
83. Lower down on both hydraulic floor jacks at the same 
time until the stock springs separate from the stock rear 
axle. Lower down approximately 5”. Special Note: Make 
sure not to over extended any brake lines or hoses 
when lowering axle. This will allow you enough room for 
the new rear blocks and add-a-leafs to be installed. 
 
84. Locate (2) new rear add-a-leafs. (2) 3/8” centering 
bolts and nuts from hardware bag CB38. Working on the 
driver side, place a pair of “C” clamps around the rear 
springs about 2” from the stock spring clamps. Safely 
remove the stock centering bolt and discard. Install the 
new add-a-leaf to the stock spring assembly. Secure the 
new rear add-a-leaf to the stock spring assembly using 
the new 3/8” center bolt and nut. Special Note: The new 
add-a-leaf should be installed into the stock spring 
assembly in progression in order. The new add-a-leaf 
should be installed between the stock overload and 
the stock spring pack. The stock overload is usually 
the un-arched spring at the bottom of the stock leaf 
pack. Also Tuff Country EZ-Ride Suspension 
recommends not using any air tools when installing 
the new add-a-leafs into the stock spring assembly. If 
air tools are used the centering bolt may strip, 
causing the stock spring assembly to come apart. 
Torque the new centering bolt and nut to 28 ft. lbs. 
Remove the “C” clamps from the stock spring assembly. 
With a suitable cutting tool, cut off the thread from the 
new centering bolt. Repeat procedure on passenger side. 
See Illustration # 27
 
85. Locate (2) new 4” lifted rear blocks. Working on the 
driver side, install (1) new 4” lifted block between the 
stock rear axle and the stock spring assembly. Special 
Note: The new 4” lifted block has a slight taper to it, 
the small end of the new block needs to be installed 
with the small end towards the front of the vehicle. 
Repeat procedure on passenger side.
See Illustration # 27
86. Raise up on both hydraulic floor jacks at the same 
time until the driver and passenger side stock spring 
assembly seats flush with newly installed 4” block. 
 
87. Locate (4) new 9/16” x 2 3/4” x 14 5/8” Square U-
bolts. (8) 9/16” U-bolt high nuts, (8) 9/16” U-bolt washers 
from hardware bag 916NW. Also locate the stock upper 
and lower U-bolt plates that were removed from step # 
82. Working on the driver side, install (2) new 9/16” x 2 
3/4” x 14 5/8” square U-bolts into the stock location and 
secure using the new 9/16” high nuts and washers. 
Torque to 120 ft lbs. Repeat procedure on passenger 
side.
See Illustration # 27
88. Working on the driver side, install the new rear 
shocks absorbers using the stock hardware removed 
from step # 81. Special Note: Shocks are not included 
with this suspension system, shocks need to be 
ordered as a separate part number, Tuff Country EZ-
Ride Suspension recommends using a 30” fully 
extended nitrogen gas shocks. Locate the new rear 
upper clevis mount and install the new clevis mount into 
the upper eyelet of the rear shock before installation. 
Repeat procedure on passenger side. 
 
89. Locate (2) new rear sway bar end links and (8) 
4902G sway bar poly bushings and (4) crush sleeves 
from hardware bag 16830SBPL. Install the new poly 
bushings and sleeves into each end of the new rear sway 
bar end link. Special Note: Make sure to use a lithium 
or moly base grease prior to inserting the new 
bushings and sleeves into the new rear sway bar end 
links. This will increase the life of the bushing as well 
as prevent squeaking. 
 
90. Locate the stock rear sway bar end link hardware that 
was removed from step # 80. Working on the driver side, 
install the new sway bar end link into the stock location 
and secure using the stock hardware Do not tighten at 
this point. Make sure to use thread locker or lock tite. 
Repeat procedure on the passenger side. Once both new 
sway bar end links are secure to the stock location, 
torque the stock hardware to 45 ft lbs. Special Note: If 
you are not able to connect the new rear sway bar 
end link to the stock location, the weight of the 
vehicle may need to be on the ground. If this is the 
case, perform this step once the tires have been 
installed and the vehicle is on the ground. 
See Illustration # 28
 
91. Check and double check to make sure that all step 
related with the front and rear end were performed 
properly. Check and double check to make sure that all 
stock and new hardware is torque to proper torque 
specifications. Refer to the torque setting sheet on the 
first page of the installation manual. 
 
92. Carefully remove both hydraulic floor jacks from 
under the rear axle.