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 without a coil spring retainer. The chances of this happening increase quite a bit if you’re using extended radius arms.
OOPS!
Some people make a coil spring 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.
About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.
Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.