Introduction

This article shows you how to remove or flip the spring in the Ford Ranger center console to stop it from opening automatically.

Disclaimer: The Ranger Station.com, The Ranger Station.com Staff, nor the original poster are responsible for you doing this modification to your vehicle. By doing this modification and following this how-to you, the installer, take full responsibility if anything is damaged or messed up. If you have questions, feel free to PM the original poster or ask in the appropriate section of The Ranger Station.com forums.

CAUTION: Pics were taken after this process was completed. The hinge by default has 3 springs in it. I recommend only placing one back in when reassembling.

Tools

  • Small Hammer
  • Very small punch
  • Philips Screwdriver
  • Different sets of needle nose pliers, angle head NN pliers will work the best
  • Optional-C clamps or Vice Grips

Procedure – Steps

Step 1. Remove the center console from the ranger.

Step 2. Either peel the felt off the top and bottom or just the (4) corners on both felt pads.

Remove the felt

Remove the felt #2

Four screws on the bottom

Step 3. Remove all (8) screws (4 on top and 4 on bottom).

Step 4. The top part and bottom piece should now easily come off, remove them

Four screws on top

Step 5. Take out the (8) screws holding the hinge in place.

Eight screws that hold the hinge

Hinge removed

Step 6. Insert a small punch in the end of the hinge and hammer it out a little bit, the use pliers to pull the rod out of the hinge (one side of the rod is painted black and is hammered flat, use the punch in the opposite side)

Punch out the pin in the hinge

Step 7. With the springs out, you can put the rod back in by itself and reassemble the whole console and it won’t force itself to open or close.

Step 8. If you want the console to have pressure holding it closed, insert the rod till it is halfway poking through the first spring slot.

Step 9. With the bracket in the CLOSED position, put the spring back in place with one tab of the spring on the TOP of the bracket towards the side you are inserting the rod.

Put the rod back in

10. Using needle nose pliers, bend the spring around so will pushing UP on the BOTTOM piece of the hinge.

Bend the spring around

Bent spring

11. Still holding the spring loaded, have a friend push the rod in with a hammer or pliers so it slides through the spring and into the next part of the hinge.

Push rod through springs

12. I recommend only putting one spring in, it has plenty of push to keep the lid down firmly. Push the rod through the hinge the rest of the way, and reassemble the console. C clamps or vice grips will help with reinstalling the hinge onto the cover, put the screws in the top of the console, then the bottom.

13. Press the felt back down or use glue to stop edges from curling.

Contributor

This modification was performed and documented by TRS forum member DarkMax who submitted it to the author to publish it at The Ranger Station to help other Ford Ranger owners.

Related Articles

1995-2001 Ford Explorer Center Console Removal

Explorer Overhead Console Upgrade

Explorer Center Console Upgrade

Remove / Install 2002-2005 Ford Explorer Center Console

How To Remove The Center (Short) Console

Ford Explorer Full Length Console Install

A Guide To Center Consoles

Ford Explorer Console Information Center

Last Updated:

About The Author

Founder / Administrator at  | Staff Profile

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.