RoadActive Suspension 3611B Active Suspension Kit Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- RoadActive Suspension
Table of Contents
RoadActive Suspension 3611B Active Suspension Kit
Product Information
- Product Name: Fitting Kit for 4×2 F150 2015-2018 with Manual Parking Brake
- Item#: 3611B, 3611B-HD
- Compatibility: Works with vehicles equipped with manual parking brake (also compatible with electric parking brake)
Important Notes:
- The RoadActive Suspension kit should not be fitted while the vehicle is standing with the rear wheels on the ground.
- Always install with the rear axle and leaf springs hanging free.
- Check the leaf springs for any excess wear, fatigue, cracked or broken blades, or worn bushes. Replace if necessary.
- If the vehicle is fitted with overload leaf springs located above the leaf springs, the overload leaf springs must be removed before installing the kit.
- Any deviation from the instructions will void the warranty.
- This kit is not warranted if installed on any vehicle used for racing, similar activities, or fitted to vehicles where the rear suspension has been modified in any way.
Product Usage Instructions
- Before installation, check the leaf springs for wear and damage. Replace if necessary.
- If the vehicle has overload leaf springs, remove them before proceeding with the installation.
- Ensure that the vehicle is not standing with the rear wheels on the ground during installation. The rear axle and leaf springs should be hanging free.
- Refer to the list of components provided in the kit:
- A. Coil Spring
- B. Axle Brackets
- C. Eye Bracket
- D. Threaded Rod 14mm
- E. Cap Screw 14mm
- F. Roller
- G. Bolt 12mm
- H. Bolt 8mm
- J. Tube Spacer 5/8”
- K. Tube Spacer 1/2”
- L. Nyloc Nuts 12mm
- M. Nyloc Nuts 8mm
- N. Cup Bearing
- O. Tube Spacer 5/8”
- P. Bolt 12mm
- Q. Hex Nut 12mm
- Follow the specific installation instructions provided for attaching the parking brake bracket to the leaf spring perch.
- Remove the flange head hex screw using a 10mm socket and wrench.
- Insert the screw into the recessed hole in the small bracket provided.
- Screw the screw back through the hole in the parking brake bracket and into the hole in the leaf spring perch.
- Ensure that the axle connecting bracket is in place.
- For setting or adjusting tension on the coil spring:
- The axle should be hanging free and leaf springs should be in the maximum arch position.
- If not using a lift, place jack stands under the front leaf spring eye for support.
- Avoid supporting the axle or differential with any lift or jack.
- If removal of the RoadActive Suspension Kit is required:
- Ensure the axle is hanging free and the leaf spring is in the maximum arch position.
- Loosen the two nuts at the rear of the spring and turn the spring to remove the tension on the threaded rod.
- Once tension is eliminated, remove the front bolt to free the kit.
IMPORTANT
- The RoadActive Suspension kit must NEVER be fitted while the vehicle is standing with the rear wheels on the ground. In this position the rear leaf springs will be under load and the RAS coil spring settings cannot be achieved, resulting in the RAS not working correctly. Always install with the rear axle and leaf springs hanging free.
- ALWAYS CHECK THE LEAF SPRINGS FOR ANY EXCESS WEAR, FATIGUE, CRACKED OR BROKEN BLADES OR WORN BUSHES. ESPECIALLY OLDER SPRINGS, THESE MUST BE REPLACED WHERE NECESSARY.
- IF THE VEHICLE THE ROADACTIVE KIT WILL BE INSTALLED ON, IS FITTED WITH OVERLOAD LEAF SPRINGS, LOCATED ABOVE THE LEAF SPRINGS, THE OVERLOAD LEAF SPRINGS MUST FIRST BE REMOVED BEFORE THE KIT CAN BE INSTALLED.
- ANY DEVIATION FROM THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. THIS KIT WILL NOT BE WARRANTED IF INSTALLED ON ANY VEHICLE USED FOR RACING, SIMILAR ACTIVITIES OR FITTED TO VEHICLES WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY.
ALL COMPONENTS FOR THIS KIT
- A. Coil Spring x2
- B. Axle Brackets x2
- C. Eye Bracket x2
- D. Threaded Rod 14mm x2
- E. Cap Screw 14mm x2
- F. Roller x2
- G. Bolt 12mm x2
- H. Bolt 8mm x2
- J. Tube Spacer 5/8” x2
- K. Tube Spacer 1/2” x2
- L. Nyloc Nuts 12mm x4
- M. Nyloc Nuts 8mm x2
- N. Cup Bearing x2
- O. Tube Spacer 5/8” x2
- P. Bolt 12mm x2
- Q. Hex Nut 12mm x10
IMPORTANT INSTALLATION NOTES
When Removing From The Packing Box
- There are two gold colored threaded rods that come with approx. six inches screwed into the end of the coiled springs, this is for packing purposes only.
- You may need to screw each of the threaded rods out of the coil springs, to lengthen kit to fit your vehicle.
When Setting Or Adjusting Tension On Coil Spring
- The axle should be hanging free & leaf springs should be in the maximum arch position.
- If not using a lift, jack stands should be placed under the front leaf spring eye.
- To be sure, any support (lift or jack), should only be utilized by placing within an inch of, but should not be supporting axle or differentia
If You Require Removal Of RoadActive Suspension Kit
- The Axle should be hanging free and leaf spring in maximum arch position.
- Loosen the two nuts at the rear of the spring, turn the spring to screw the threaded rod out of the spring to completely eliminate the tension on the spring.
- Once the tension is eliminated (and kit is loose), remove front bolt to free kit.
THE 2015 AND UP FORD F‐150 2X4 PICKUPS COME WITH A PARKING BRAKE SUPPORT BRACKET (ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY) AS SHOWN IN ILLUSTRATION 1. THIS BRACKET ATTACHES TO THE LEAF SPRING PERCH AND IF NOT MODIFIIED WILL INTERFERE WITH OUR KIT AXLE CONNECTING BACKET. WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THIS KIT A SMALL METAL BRACKET THAT WHEN INSTALLED ON THE LEAF SPRING PERCH, WILL ALLOW OUR AXLE BRACKET TO FIT PERFECTLY. THIS SMALL MODIFICATION SHOULD TAKE ONLY A FEW MINUTES TO FIT. (NOT USED ON VEHICLES WITH ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE)
- ILLUSTRATION 1 SHOWING THE PARKING BRAKE BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE LEAF SPRING PERCH, WITH ONE FLANGE HEAD HEX SCREW THAT WILL BE RE USED TO ATTACH OUR BRACKET. ILLUSTRATION OF OUR SMALL METAL BRACKET AND THE FLANGE HEAD HEX SCREW TO BE REUSED
- START BY REMOVING THE FLANGE HEAD HEX SCREW USING A 10mm SOCKET AND WRENCH
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NEXT INSERT THE SCREW IN THE RECESSED HOLE IN OUR SMALL BRACKET AND THEN AS SHOWN IN ILLUSTRATION (3), SCREW IT BACK THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE PARKING BRAKE BRACKET AND THEN INTO THE HOLE IN THE LEAF SPRING PERCH.
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WITH THE BRACKET NOW IN PLACE, THE AXLE CONNECTING BRACKET CAN BE POSITIONED AS ILLUSTRATED IN INSTRUCTION 10 AND 11 AS PER THE FITTING INSTRUCTIONS.
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Before starting the installation make sure the vehicle is on a level surface, then place wheel chocks on both sides of the front wheels.
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Loosen all the rear wheel lug nuts just one turn, but don’t remove at this stage.
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Position a floor jack of (the correct capacity for your vehicle) under the differential housing.
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Next raise the rear of the vehicle with the jack sufficiently to place jack stands on both sides of the vehicle. As the vehicle has rear leaf springs, the ideal place to position the stands is under the front eye of the leaf springs, connected to the fixed shackles, as illustrated. With the floor jack still under the differential, next remove the rear wheels. With the lug nuts now loosened, this will make the removal a lot easier.
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With both jack stands now correctly positioned and safely supporting the rear of the vehicle, very slowly lower the floor jack checking that the pads on the stands are still in the correct position at all times. With the vehicle now well supported, continue lowering the jack until the jack just makes contact with the differential housing, then raise the pad of the jack about 1/2 inch only, as shown in the illustration. The floor jack will be used as an extra safety device. Before starting the installation of the RAS, once again check that the rear of the vehicle is well supported.
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The RoadActive kit comes fully assembled out of the box. Remove one side and place it on top of the rear leaf spring with the eye bracket hook (C) facing the rear of the vehicle. Next position the eye bracket over the rear wrap eye of the leaf spring, as illustrated.
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Illustration showing the eye bracket located and the unit on top of the leaf springs. There are two different adjustments that can be used to achieve the correct length of the RAS depending on the vehicle you are installing it on. The axle connecting brackets (B) have four holes on each side and comes with the 12 mm bolt, spacer and nyloc nut, located through the end holes in the bracket. The nyloc nut has only been turned on hand tight, the other length adjustment is on the threaded rod, which will be explained and shown in (9).
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Next remove the nut, bolt and spacer. The bracket should now hang astride the leaf spring pack and U bolts.
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To lengthen the unit so the bolt spacer and nut can be located on the other side ofthe U bolt and under the bottom leaf spring. Start turning the coil spring with one hand and hold the threaded rod with the other.
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With the axle bracket now in positioned under the leaf springs, insert the connecting bolt and spacer as shown in the illustration.
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Next attach the nylon nut and tighten. VERY IMPORTANT The bolt with spacer must be located directly under the leaf spring.
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When fitting to some Ford vehicles where the U bolts are located around the axle and have a hold down plate on top of the leaf springs, the axle connecting bracket must be located the same way as in illustration (10) also with the bolt and spacer directly under the leaf springs ( 11).
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Before adjusting the coil spring to the correct tension, check to see that the eye bracket is in the center of the spring eye.
HOW TO TENSION THE COIL SPRING.
WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STILL SUPPORTED, THE LEAF SPRINGS STILL IN THEIR MAXIMUM ARCHED POSITION AND THE AXLE HANGING FREE -
Position the two nuts on the threaded rod as shown. Then use a ratchet fitted with a 12 mm socket on the head of the cap screw, and a 22 mm wrench on the lock nuts closest to the eye bracket at the end of the threaded rod. The two nuts come locked together when the kits are assembled at out factory. By holding the threaded rod stationery and turning the coil spring the gap between the coils will start opening
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We have included with this kit two small discs, that are to be used as a gauge to adjust the tension setting of the variable rated tension coil springs. These can be adjusted to two different settings, depending on the vehicle requirement. For improved handling and 25% additional load carrying the correct adjustment between the coils is reached when the white disc (1mm thick) is used as a gauge and can just pass between the coils.
For improved handling and 40% additional load carrying the correct adjustment between the coils is reached when the black disc (2mm thick) is used as a gauge and can just pass between the coils. The additional load carrying as stated above, can vary depending on the vehicle. -
Finally, jam one of the two nuts located in the center of the threaded rod hard against the coil spring, then follow with the second nut and jam against the first.
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With the one side now installed, check all the fasteners to See that they are secure. Now continue the installation on the opposite side.
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Once the installation on both sides is complete, raise the rear of the vehicle, replace the wheels, remove the two jack stands, lower the vehicle and remove the wheel chocks. Once you have taken the vehicle for a spin, we are sure that you will immediately feel the improvement in handling.
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