Tuff Country 16830 - GM 92-98 K1500 Suburban and 2-door Tahoe 6 kit User Manual
Page 5
 
15. Working on the driver side, remove the stock nut that 
connects the stock axle to the stock hub assembly. Save 
the stock nut for later re-installation. 
See Illustration # 3
 
16. Working on the driver side, disconnect the ABS lines 
from each other. Also disconnect the ABS line from any 
other mounting points. 
 
17. Working on the driver side, remove the stock nut that 
connects the stock outer tie rod ball joint to the stock 
spindle. Save the stock hardware for later re-installation. 
Carefully break the stock taper on the stock outer tie rod 
ball joint. Special Note: Take special care not to rip or 
tear the stock outer tie rod ball joint dust boot. 
 
18. Working on the driver side, remove the stock cotter 
pin from the stock castle nut that connects the stock 
upper control arm ball joint to the stock steering knuckle. 
Save the stock cotter pin for re-installation. Loosen 
the stock nut that connects the stock upper control arm 
ball joint to the stock steering knuckle. Do not remove 
the stock nut completely. Carefully break the stock 
taper on the stock upper control arm ball joint. Special 
Note: Take special care not to rip or tear the stock 
ball joint dust boot. 
 
19. Working on the driver side, remove the stock cotter 
pin from the stock castle nut that connects the stock 
lower control arm ball joint to the stock steering knuckle. 
Save the stock cotter pin for re-installation. Loosen 
the stock nut that connects the stock lower control arm 
ball joint to the stock steering knuckle. Do not remove 
the stock nut completely. Carefully break the stock 
taper on the stock lower control arm ball joint. Special 
Note: Take special care not to rip or tear the stock 
ball joint dust boot. 
 
20. Working on the driver side, move back to the stock 
nuts holding the upper control arm ball joint and the lower 
control arm ball joint to the stock spindle and remove 
completely. Save the stock hardware for later re-
installation. 
 
21. 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. 
 
22. Working on the driver side, carefully remove the stock 
hub assembly and the stock spindle from the stock 
location. 
 
23. Working on the driver side stock hub assembly, 
remove the (3) stock bolts that connect the stock hub 
assembly to the stock spindle. Save the stock hardware 
and stock hub assembly for later re-installation. Carefully 
remove the stock axle seal from the stock spindle and set 
a side for later re-installation. A new spindle is used, the 
stock spindle can be discarded. 
24. Locate the new driver side spindle. Carefully install 
the stock axle seal that was removed from step # 23 to 
the new driver side spindle. Using the stock hardware 
that was removed from step # 23, secure the new driver 
side spindle to the stock hub assembly. Torque to 92 ft 
lbs. Special Note: Make sure to use thread locker or 
lock tite. 
 
25. Set the new driver side spindle and hub assembly a 
side for later re-installation. 
 
26. 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
 
27. Working on the driver side, unbolt and remove the (6) 
stock bolts holding the inner CV axle to the stock 
differential. Discard the stock hardware. Set the stock CV 
axle a side for later re-installation. 
 
28. 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 aside for later re-installation. 
 
29. Repeat step’s 13 - 28 on the passenger side. 
 
30. 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 # 30. Clean and dress up 
any exposed metal. 
See Illustration # 5
31. Place a pair of hydraulic floor jacks under the front 
differential, and carefully raise up on both hydraulic floor 
jacks at the same time, until they come into contact with 
the front differential. 
 
32. Locate the wiring harness that connects the 4WD 
control panel to the front differential. Disconnect the 4WD 
wiring harness from the front differential. Tie the 4WD 
wiring harness up and out of the way. Special Note: 
Take special care not to kink the 4WD wiring harness.  
 
33. Disconnect any other vent hoses and/or wiring that is 
connected to the front differential.