How to Install Rough Country 2" Body Lift Kit on your 1997-2006 Wrangler

Congratulations on your purchase of a new Rough Country 2”/3” Body Lift. We are committed to providing you with the best product available for the best value. Your satisfaction is our highest priority! This instruction sheet addresses both 2” and 3” body lifts for Jeep TJ

Rough Country recommends a certified technician installs this system. In addition to these instructions, professional knowledge of disassemble/reassembly procedures as well as post installation checks must be known. Check the kit hardware against the parts list. Be sure you have all the needed parts and understand where they go. Also please review the tools needed list and make sure you have needed tools.

PRODUCT USE INFORMATION

As a general rule, the taller a vehicle is the easier it will roll. We strongly recommend, because of rollover possibility, that the vehicle be equipped with a functional roll-bar and cage system. Seat belts and shoulder harnesses should be worn at all times. Avoid situations where a side rollover may occur.

Do not add, alter, or fabricate any factory or after-market parts which increase vehicle height over the intended height of the Rough Country product purchased. We will not be responsible for any product that is altered.

This 2”or 3” combination body lift / replacement body bushing kit can be used with Rough Country’s lift kit if desired to allow the fitment of larger tires for off road use.

NOTICE TO DEALER AND VECHICLE OWNER

Any vehicle equipped with any Rough Country product must have the “Warning to Driver” decal installed on the sun visor or dash. The decal is to act as a constant reminder for whoever is operating the vehicle of its unique handling characteristics.

BODY LIFT PRE INSTALLATION NOTES:

To ensure the SRS system (Air bag system) is not accidentally deployed during installation, always ground yourself and the vehicle. Exercise extreme caution when working near SRS sensors and wiring. DO not allow anyone near air bags during the lift kit installation. Accidental deployment can result in serious injury or death. As a precaution, the negative and positive wire should be disconnected from the battery with the negative wire being removed first. Also the air bag fuse can be removed from the fuse panel behind the glove box. Check hoses and wiring before and recheck during installation taking caution to not overextend them.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable using 13mm wrench. See Photo 1.

2. Open glove box and remove strap from glove box door. Put door out of way. remove both 10 amp airbag fuses. See owners manual. See Photo 2.

3. Remove plastic jeep sway-bar cover using 10mm socket. See Photo 3.

4. If equipped with fog light on the bumper remove push pin from fender and unplug light.

5. Remove air intake hose from air filter housing and throttle body using a screwdriver. See Photo 4.

6. Remove coolant overflow hose and bottle from fan shroud and radiator. See Photo 5.

7. Remove the four nuts from radiator fan then remove the 4 bolts holding fan shroud to the radiator using a 11mm socket. See Photo 6. Do not drop or let the fan rest again the radiator as this may cause damage to the cooling fins.

8. Remove clip holding transmission line to shroud. Remove both shroud and fan from vehicle.

9. Remove the six bolts from radiator using 10mm socket. See Photo 7.

10. Unplug vacuum hose from brake booster. See Photo 8.

11. Remove heater hoses from clip on side of valve cover. See Photo 9.

12. Unplug or unclip the black and grey wiring harness connectors and any other harness present in this location. See Photo 10.

13. On driver side front fender well remove the clips from gap guard. See Photo 11.

14. Then using a 15mm wrench remove the two bolts on steering carrier bearing bracket. See Photo 12.

15. Remove gas cap. Remove the four screws from fuel filler assembly. See Photo 13.

16. Remove the screws for fuel filler bezel. See Photo 14.

17. Depending on the year of jeep if your EVAP canister or ( charcoal canister ) is under hood on drivers fender skip to step 23.

18. If the EVAP canister is located on the passenger side rear wheel well, proceed with step 19.

19. Remove wheel from passenger rear using a 19mm socket then remove the 7 push clips from inner fender well. See Photo 15.

20. Remove fender well. See Photo 16.

21. Using a 13mm socket, remove EVAP canister plate. See Photo 17.

22. Unclip the black clamp around hose just above the white connector. See Photo 18.

23. Automatic trans only!!!!!!! 97-02 Pictured. Remove the six bolt on console one is in cup holder, two are in console compartment as shown in Photo 19. Move passenger seat forward and two bolts are on the side of console. Last bolt is under shift indicator as shown in Photo 20. All bolts are 10mm.

24. Raise console up enough to pull carpet out on driver side to gain access to the four bolts holding the 4wd shifter lever pivot bracket to the body using a 10mm wrench. See Photo 21.

25. Loosen but do not remove the eleven body bolts using a 16mm socket. One bolt is under radiator support, 3 bolts are under both doors, 2 are over rear axle and 2 are at each rear corner. See Diagram 1 on first page.

26. On passenger side remove body bolts and front body bolt. Using a jack stand or floor jack and a piece of wood slowly raise body off of frame. Raise body only high enough to get body puck in between the body and stock body bushing as shown in Photo 23. Proceed to the opposite side and install the body pucks. Secure using the 6 supplied 1/2” bolts on body mounts under both doors.

27. Use the supplied 7/16” bolts on body mounts over the axle, at both rear corner and front radiator support.

28. Place the included grill support bracket as shown under the stock rubber support. Mark and drill as shown in Photo 24 using a 9/32” drill bit. Secure the bracket to the frame using the supplied 5/16” self tapping bolts. Do not overtighten the self tapping bolts.

29. Remove zip tie from around axle vent tube and fuel filler vent hose. See Photo 25. Picture looking through the gas filler housing.

30. In between body and frame on drivers side, near gas tank remove ground strap from frame. See Photo 26.

31. Using a 1/4 inch socket remove both clamps around fuel filler hoses at gas tank. See Photo 27.

32. Remove the filler hoses. See Photo 28.

33. With the fuel filler hoses out, cut the hoses in a straight spot and insert the 1-1/2” x 4” and 3/4” x 4” extensions into filler hoses. Use the supplied clamps and tighten using a 8mm socket. See Photo 29.

34. Reinstall extended fuel filler hoses onto gas tank with the factory hardware. Tighten stock clamps with 1/4 socket.

35. Reinstall ground strap and zip tie axle vent tube back to fuel filler vent hose.

36. Reinstall fuel filler assembly to bezel and bezel back to the body.

37. On the EVAP canister, if located in the rear passenger side fender wheel, Slide the black clamp up to the hose about 2 inches and reattach to body. Reinstall EVAP canister cover plate using 13mm. Install fender well if removed.

38. Remove 4wd pivot bracket from under vehicle on driver side near transmission that was loosened in step 24. See Photo 31.

39. Using a 10mm socket remove the pivot bearing from bracket and install into the new relocation bracket using the supplied bolts 1/4” x 3/4” bolts and nuts. Tighten using a 11mm wrench. See Photo 32.

40. Reinstall assembly back onto vehicle with the factory hardware. Tighten using a 10mm wrench.

41. Install the supplied 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” x 1-3/4” long inch square tubing onto steering carrier bearing using the supplied 10mm x 60mm bolt and washer. See Photo 33.

42. Install the side steering carrier bearing strap using the stock bolt on bottom and the supplied 7/16” x 1” bolt, washer and nut on top. See Photo 34. Use a 17mm wrench to tighten 10mm bolt ,16mm and 17mm for new 7/16” bolt and 15mm for stock bolt.

43. Reinstall gap guard. Note: Make sure fuel lines are away from steering carrier bearing.

44. Reconnect front factory fog light if equipped.

45. Zip tie the black and grey connectors under hood at firewall.

46. Reconnect vacuum hose to brake booster and reattach heater hose to clips.

47. Install supplied 1/4” stud into supplied radiator drop brackets using a small socket and hammer. Making sure the stud is secure to prevent spinning. See Photo 35.

48. Install 1/4 nuts onto studs and tighten using 11mm wrench. This nut is being used as a spacer to allow the radiator flange to sit flush. See Photo 36.

49. Install the six radiator drop bracket using stock bolts. Make sure you install into correct hole in drop bracket for 2 inch body lift. The middle hole is for the 2” body lift. Make sure brackets are straight before tightening.

50. Install radiator onto brackets making sure A/C lines clear on the bottom of the radiator. Trim if necessary.

51. Using the supplied 1/4” nuts and tighten radiator to drop brackets using 11mm socket.

1. To install the Manual shifter bracket remove the 4 bolt holding the lower shifter boot in place using a 7mm socket. See Photo 1.

2. Then remove shifter from trans by pulling up and you may have to use a hammer. See Photo 2.

3. Install new shifter extension until it bottom out. Tighten the supplied allen screws using a 3mm allen wrench. See Photo 3.

4. Install shifter onto shifter extension making sure it is pressed on all the way. See Photo 4.

5. Check shifter operation. Make sure there is complete engagement in all gears and that there is no interference with floor pan.

6. Reinstall lower shifter boot using 7mm socket.

7. Install console using stock hardware and 10mm socket. Install upper shifter boot and cup holder.

8. Check shifter for interference.

1. Remove shifter boot and cup holder from console. See Photo 1 & 2.

2. Using a 10mm socket remove the bolts from console as shown in Photo 3 & 4. One is in cup holder other is under shifter boot.

3. Remove console. If equipped unplug airbag switch.

4. Using a 45mm torx head socket remove shifter. See Photo 5.

5. Install new shifter extension using stock bolt and supplied 1/4” allen screw. See Photo 6. Tighten using a 45mm torx bit and a 1/8 allen wrench.

6. Reinstall shifter boot on shifter if removed.

7. Reinstall shifter on new extension with new 5/16” x1”bolt, using a 1/4” allen head to tighten.

8. Using a 10mm socket reinstall console with stock bolts.

1. When installing a 3” body lift these steps will be performed to ensure the 4wd shifter engages in all ranges of the transfer case.

2. Remove 4wd shifter rod under vehicle using a screwdriver or pair of pliers. See Photo 1 & 2.

3. Mark a straight 3 inch long line on the thicker part of shifter rod. See Photo 3.

4. Using a grinder make a flat surface beside the line. See Photo 4.

5. Cut the linkage 1 inch from the taper part on rod. See Photo 5.

6. Clean the cut area then install new extension sleeve onto linkage until it bottoms out. See Photo 6.

7. Tighten 1/4” allen screws using 1/8” allen wrench onto the grinded flat area.

8. Reinstall shifter rod back onto vehicle and adjust for proper operation.