Rough Country GM 2025 4WD 1500 3.5 Inch Lift Kit

Product Use Information

WARNING: As a general rule, the taller a vehicle is, the easier it will roll. Seat belts and shoulder harnesses should be worn at all times. Avoid situations where a side rollover may occur. Generally, braking performance and capability are decreased when larger/heavier tires and wheels are used. Take this into consideration while driving. Do not add, alter, or fabricate any factory or after-market parts to increase vehicle height over the intended height of the Rough Country product purchased. Mixing component brands is not recommended.

Rough Country makes no claims regarding lifting devices and excludes any and all implied claims. Rough Country will not be responsible for any product that is altered. If questions exist, Rough Country will be happy to answer any questions concerning the design, function, and correct use of its products.

NOTICE: The electric power steering must be unplugged before any of the steering components are removed. Failure to do so may cause damage to the electric power steering.

NOTICE: Trucks equipped with a mass damper on the front diff, the damper will have to be removed.

This kit is packaged as a leveling kit—raising the front 3.5" and the back 2.5". If you desire a different look or if the vehicle has a tool box or added weight in the rear, please consult with your sales representative about other block and u-bolt options.

This suspension system was developed using a 295/60R20 tire on the factory 20" wheel. If wider tires are used, trimming may be required. Due to manufacturing, dimension variances, and inflation, all tire and wheel combinations should be tested prior to installation on all oversized / wider than stock tires and wheels.

NOTICE: Fits crew cab short bed models only. Will not fit models with adaptive ride control and will not fit GMC AT4 or Chevy Trail Boss models.

NOTICE: Any vehicle equipped with any Rough Country product should have a “Warning to Driver” decal installed on the inside of the windshield or on the vehicle's dash. The decal should act as a constant reminder for whoever is operating the vehicle.

Tools Needed

• Floor Jack / Jack Stands
• 10mm socket/wrench
• 13mm socket/wrench
• 15mm socket/wrench
• 17mm socket/wrench
• 18mm socket/wrench
• 36mm socket
• 1/2" socket/wrench
• 9/16" socket/wrench
• 3/4" socket/wrench
• T30 Torx bit
• Reciprocating Saw
• Hammer
• Locking Pliers

Torque Specs

Kit Contents

Refer to the product pages for specific kit contents. Common components include:

• Forged Upper Control Arms (UCAs)
• N3 Shocks / Vertex Coilovers / V2 Shocks
• Lift Blocks
• U-bolts
• Strut Spacers
• Sway Bar Drop Brackets
• Hardware Bags (e.g., 226BAG1, 9/16BAG1, 275BAG3, 10MMSTUDBAG-2)

Front Installation

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and chock the rear wheels. Lock the steering wheel in the straight position.
2. Jack up the front of the vehicle. Place jack stands under the frame rails and lower onto jack stands, letting the front suspension hang.
3. Raise the hood and disconnect the battery using a 10mm socket.
4. Remove the tires and wheels.
5. Remove the 6 bolts holding the factory skid plates, using a 13mm socket. Retain for later use. [Remove skid plates]
6. Unplug the three connectors going to the rack and pinion. [Unplug rack and pinion]
7. Using a 21mm socket, remove the tie-rod nut. Strike the front of the mount with a hammer to dislodge the tie rod end. Remove from the knuckle. [Remove tie rod end]
8. Unplug the brake pad sensor wire on the driver's side of the vehicle.
9. Remove the brake line from the knuckle using a 10mm socket. Retain hardware for reuse. [Remove the brake line from the knuckle]
10. Remove the brake caliper using an 18mm socket. Retain the bolts for reuse. Hang caliper out of harm's way. Do not hang by the brake line. [Remove the brake caliper]
11. Remove the ABS wire bracket from the upper control arm using a 10mm socket. [Remove ABS wire bracket from the upper arm]
12. Using a 10mm socket, remove the ABS wire bracket from the knuckle. Retain hardware. [Remove ABS wire from knuckle]
13. Using a 10mm socket, remove the ABS sensor from the knuckle. Retain hardware and hang ABS wire out of the way. [Remove ABS sensor from knuckle]
14. Using an 18mm wrench, loosen the upper ball joint nut. Do not completely remove the nut. Strike the knuckle with a hammer to release the ball joint taper. [Loosen upper ball joint nut]
15. Remove the upper control arm nut and remove the control arm from the knuckle.
16. Support the lower control arm.
17. Remove the swaybar from the LCA and frame using an 18mm socket on the LCA and a 10mm socket on the frame. [Remove swaybar from LCA and frame]
18. Using a 15mm socket, remove the lower strut mounting bolts. [Remove lower strut bolts]
19. On the passenger side, use a 13mm socket to remove the bolt holding the plastic wire loom attached to the frame and upper strut tower. Retain hardware. [Remove wire loom nut]
20. Using an 18mm wrench, remove the upper strut nuts. Retain hardware. Remove the strut from the vehicle. [Remove upper strut hardware]
21. Place the strut into a strut compressor. Make sure to locate or mark the position of the lower barpin. [Place strut in strut compressor]
22. Compress the spring to allow room for the preload spacer. [Compress spring to allow room for spacer]
23. Place both halves of the preload spacer beneath the isolator.
24. Interlock the two halves of the preload spacer by angling up one side and sliding it into place. [Interlock both halves of preload spacer]
25. Completely seat the preload spacers and release the strut compressor. [Completely seat preload spacers]
26. Measure from the top of the stud down 3/8 inch, mark the stud and cut off with a cut-off wheel to clear the strut spacer with the studs installed. [Measure 3/8 of an inch and trim the stud]
27. Install the 10mm studs into the smaller holes in the strut spacer, using the supplied 1/2" jam nut to slide over each stud to act as a spacer. Use a 10mm hex nut and a 17mm wrench to pull the stud through the hole. Remove sleeve and repeat on the other five studs. [Install the studs on the strut spacer]
28. Install the strut spacer on top of the factory strut, secure using the OE nuts. Torque to 45 ft-lbs using an 18mm wrench. [Install the strut spacer onto the strut]
29. Mark the location of the upper control arm. Remove the 2 bolts and nuts from the upper control arm, use a 21mm socket and wrench. Save for reuse. [Remove the upper control arm]
30. Remove the upper control arm from the vehicle.
31. Install the new supplied upper control arm in the stock location, using the OE hardware. Align the marks made in step 30. Torque to 80 ft-lbs using a 21mm socket and wrench. [Install upper control arm]
32. Install the strut into the factory mount on the frame, use the supplied flange nuts (10MMSTUDBAG-2). Hand tighten only. [Install the strut in the upper mount]
33. Use a flat screwdriver to remove the factory clip nuts from the lower strut bar pin.
34. Install the strut into the lower control arm. [Install the strut into lower arm]
35. Attach the lower strut mount to the lower control arm using the supplied 10mm x 65mm bolts, washers, and nylock nuts. Bolts go in from the top. [Attach strut to LCA]
36. Attach the upper ball joint using the factory hardware. Tighten using an 18mm wrench. [Tighten upper ball joint]
37. Install the swaybar drop bracket in the factory location with the factory hardware. Install the swaybar to the bottom of the bracket using the supplied 10mm-1.5x35mm bolts, nuts, and washers. Attach the sway link to the lower control arm using the factory hardware. Tighten using a 16mm and an 18mm socket. [Install swaybar drop bracket and swaybar]
38. Install the ABS sensor wire bracket onto the upper control arm using the OE bolt. Tighten using a 10mm socket. [Install ABS wire bracket onto the upper arm]
39. Attach the ABS sensor to the knuckle using the factory hardware. Tighten using a 10mm socket. [Install ABS sensor in knuckle]
40. Install the brake caliper onto the rotor and secure using the retained bolts. Torque the caliper bolts to 130 ft-lbs using an 18mm socket. Install brake line onto the knuckle using the retained bolt. Tighten using a 10mm wrench. [Install the brake caliper]
41. Attach brake line to the knuckle using the factory hardware. Tighten using a 10mm socket. [Install the brake line onto the knuckle]
42. Plug up the brake pad wear sensor. [Connect the brake pad sensor plug]
43. Attach the tie rod end to the knuckle using factory hardware. Tighten using a 21mm wrench. [Install tie rod end into knuckle]
44. Repeat steps 6-44 on the opposite side of the vehicle.
45. Reconnect the plugs to the rack and pinion and the differential actuator. [Plug in rack and pinion and diff actuator]
46. Install the factory skid plates using the retained hardware, using a 13mm socket. Torque to 32 ft-lbs. [Install skid plates]
47. Install the wheels and tires.
48. Jack up the truck and remove the jack stands. Lower the truck to the ground.
49. Connect the battery cables to the battery.

WARNING: Take caution when installing the wheels, making sure they completely clear the brake caliper. Any pressure on the brake caliper from the wheel will cause an error in the brake system. The braking system will not function properly. The vehicle will have to be reset by a GM dealership.

Rear Installation

1. Chock the front tires.
2. Jack up the rear of the truck and place jack stands under the frame rails, lower the truck onto the jack stands allowing the rear suspension to hang. Place a jack under the rear differential.
3. Using a 21mm wrench, remove the upper rear shock hardware. Retain hardware. [Remove upper shock hardware]
4. Using a 21mm wrench and socket, remove the rear shock from the axle. Retain hardware. [Remove lower shock hardware]
5. Using a 13mm wrench, remove the 3 bolts from the ABS/brake line bracket on the rear differential. Retain bolts for later use. [Remove rear brake line bracket]
6. Using a 21mm deep well socket, remove the rear u-bolts. [Remove u-bolts]
7. Lower the rear axle and remove the factory blocks.
8. Install the supplied rear blocks (larger end of the block to the rear) and u-bolts. Tighten the u-bolts using a 22mm socket. Torque to 90ft/lbs. [Install supplied blocks], [Install supplied u-bolts]
9. Install the supplied shocks using the factory hardware. Torque to factory specs using a 21mm wrench and socket. [Install supplied shocks]
10. Install the 3 retained bolts in the ABS/brake line bracket on the rear differential. Tighten using a 13mm wrench. [Install the rear brake line bracket]
11. Re-install tires and wheels.
12. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle to ground.
13. Place shock decals on shock absorbers and window decal on vehicle.

WARNING: Take caution when installing the wheels, making sure they completely clear the brake caliper. Any pressure on the brake caliper from the wheel will cause an error in the brake system. The braking system will not function properly. The vehicle will have to be reset by a GM dealership.

Post Installation Instructions

1. Check all fasteners for proper torque. Check for adequate clearance between all rotating, mobile, fixed, and heated members. Verify clearance between exhaust and brake lines, fuel lines, fuel tank, floor boards and wiring harness. Check steering gear for clearance. Test and inspect brake system.
2. Perform steering sweep to ensure front brake hoses have adequate slack and do not contact any rotating, mobile, or heated members. Inspect rear brake hoses at full extension for adequate slack. Failure to perform hose check/replacement may result in component failure.
3. On some vehicles, the front lower skirting will need to be trimmed if using certain wheel/tire combinations and with heavy offset wheels. Trim only as needed.
4. Activate four wheel drive system and check front hubs for engagement.
5. Have a qualified alignment center align the vehicle immediately. Realign to factory specifications. Recommended specifications:
   • Caster: 4.0 +-1.0 degrees
   • Camber: -.4 +-.8 degrees
   • Toe In: 0.1 +-.2 degrees
6. Perform headlight check and adjustment to proper settings.
7. Check and retighten wheels at 50 miles and again at 500 miles.
8. All kit components must be retightened at 500 miles and then every three thousand miles after installation. Periodically check all hardware for tightness.
9. Install "Warning to Driver” decal on sun visor.

Note: Installation of larger tires will require speedometer recalibration.

Thank you for choosing Rough Country for all of your suspension needs.

By purchasing any item sold by Rough Country, LLC, the buyer expressly warrants that he/she is in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations regarding the purchase, ownership, and use of the item. It shall be the buyer's responsibility to comply with all Federal, State and Local laws governing the sales of any items listed, illustrated or sold. The buyer expressly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Rough Country, LLC for all claims resulting directly or indirectly from the purchase, ownership, or use of the items.