The front coil springs on your Ford Ranger sit up inside of the coil bucket over a couple of ears, tabs, or whatever you want to call them. They keep the coil from popping out sideways. Ford didn’t design these trucks to do hard wheeling, so if the front axle drops far enough flexing the suspension, there is a chance the coil could get pulled out from the upper mount. The chances of this happening increase quite a bit if you’re using extended radius arms.
OOPS!
Some people make a coil retainer;
But honestly, a hose clamp is the cheapest, simplest solution. They’re actually stronger than you may think. Just make sure they’re tight or you’ll hear a rattle in the front suspension.
Jim Oaks is the founder of TheRangerStation.com, the longest-running Ford Ranger resource online since 1999. With over 25 years of hands-on experience building and modifying Ford Rangers — including magazine-featured builds like Project Transformer — Jim has become one of the most trusted authorities in the Ford off-road and enthusiast space. In 2019, he was loaned a Ranger FX4 by Ford Motor Company to test and document across the TransAmerica Trail. Jim continues to inspire and guide Ranger owners around the world.