Hey everyone!

​​​​​​I registered on the site specifically so I could post this question. I'm in a pressing situation here, and I'm hoping for some good advice. I'm driving a 1995 Ford Ranger, 2.3l, stick shift, 2wd.

On my way home from Montreal today, on a 200-mile trip, I hit a pothole that caused my left front leaf spring shackle to completely sever, leaving the front of my leaf spring free-floating. I noticed the difference in driving immediately, as the truck sounded a bit different, shifted slightly differently, and pulled to the right slightly. I pulled off on the nearest rest stop, got under the truck, and quickly discovered what had happened.

I debated limping home slowly on back roads, as the truck seems to ride pretty well still... But to be safe I looked up how dangerous this is, and I was scared off. Not only might I be in danger, but this could be a serious road hazard for other people as well.

Tonight, I returned back to where I stayed in Montreal, and I'm trying to figure out my best plan of action tomorrow. Obviously I need to get this fixed, but it would be much more comfortable if I could get home first, or I can lay in my driveway and get onto the truck and really analyze things better. Also, at my home back in New York I have a mechanic that I know and trust that I can consult.

The truck is sitting in the parking lot of the rest stop tonight as we speak, and I need to decide what to do by tomorrow evening. I had a good friend recommend trying the leaf spring back to the frame with a ratchet strap and driving home on back roads at 50 miles per hour. He thought that it would be fine for the 150 miles it's going to take to get home. I'm averse to having a tow truck pull my Ranger all the way back to my home in New York, and having to cross the border... That sounds like an expensive tow. I'm also averse to just bringing it to the nearest mechanic where it is, because I don't know the credibility of who I might be bringing it to, and that also means I would have to stay away from home for a longer period of time.

Do you guys have a suggestion about the best way to make a quick Band-Aid fix so I can fairly safely get home? Is my friends ratchet strap idea sound?

I had the thought while laying under the truck that perhaps, since this is rear wheel drive, the differential might help keep the rear axle in place... Between that and the intact right leaf spring, perhaps this would be enough support to get home slowly?

Any help is much appreciated here... Sorry to be introducing myself to the community with such a time sensitive and pressing question... It's certainly not a fun situation to be in.

Broken leaf spring shackle https://imgur.com/gallery/VNgM869

 

I've seen a ratchet strap used before, and that's all I'm saying. You're really in a bad situation because that job isn't a cheap one, it isn't one that can be done in the rest area parking lot, and a tow between two countries is definitely not cheap. Your best option is to have it fixed in Montreal and then drive home without having to worry about whether your truck (and you) will make it home.