Looking for a full metal hood latch.

Lunch Patterson

Lunch Patterson

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2020
Messages
96
Location
USA
I'm getting a lot of hood flutter. I also want to change out all the latch stuff to paint a fender. The stock jeep one looks like I'm going to have to cut it out of there. Why would you put a thin, sharp square head bolt that relies on plastic to hold it in place to get the nut off. It completely just spins now.

I've seen the RR aluminum ones, but there is a single plastic piece that it all clips to. I've seen loads of complaints on it breaking. They would be perfect if the most important part of the whole thing wasn't made of plastic. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2HRGPI/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I've also seen the Drake Offroad ones. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OCJXR8C/?tag=wranglerorg-20 They both look ugly to me, and also sound like a pain to get the hood open and closed.

I'm just seeing if there is an actually well designed metal latch for the hood that I'm missing. Heck even a replacement one a this point that doesn't have that horrible failure point of a thin bolt head having soft plastic being what keeps it from spinning when you try to take it off.
 
Lunch Patterson said:
I'm getting a lot of hood flutter. I also want to change out all the latch stuff to paint a fender. The stock jeep one looks like I'm going to have to cut it out of there. Why would you put a thin, sharp square head bolt that relies on plastic to hold it in place to get the nut off. It completely just spins now.

I've seen the RR aluminum ones, but there is a single plastic piece that it all clips to. I've seen loads of complaints on it breaking. They would be perfect if the most important part of the whole thing wasn't made of plastic. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2HRGPI/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I've also seen the Drake Offroad ones. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OCJXR8C/?tag=wranglerorg-20 They both look ugly to me, and also sound like a pain to get the hood open and closed.

I'm just seeing if there is an actually well designed metal latch for the hood that I'm missing. Heck even a replacement one a this point that doesn't have that horrible failure point of a thin bolt head having soft plastic being what keeps it from spinning when you try to take it off.
Click to expand...
I ended up using the Drake ones and haven't regret it. I leave the pins "open" most of the time unless I park it in city parking then I lock them. Not a bad deal, unless you hate the looks. No hood fluttering, no matter how windy it gets.

Edit: FWIW the hood is not more difficult or easier to open than with the stock system. takes getting used to, but it works well
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2001slvrstntj and Lunch Patterson
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IARSEY/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I used these and they are great. Keeps the OEM look, quick simple install as long as you don't take the OEM off and put it back on like me haha
completely stopped my hood from moving and it's not the same stretchy material as the oem ones. I recommend them.

I also went with these over others because the ones with locking features could cause issues in the event of a fire while offroading. with these I can simply unlatch them quickly to get the hood open.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nickgsjeep, Lunch Patterson and AMS417
Lunch Patterson said:
I'm just seeing if there is an actually well designed metal latch for the hood that I'm missing. Heck even a replacement one a this point that doesn't have that horrible failure point of a thin bolt head having soft plastic being what keeps it from spinning when you try to take it off.
Click to expand...
If the main problem to avoid is the nut being stuck to the bolt that's held by the plastic, adding some anti-ceaze before it ceases would probably fix that. Of course mopar doesn't use stuff like that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lunch Patterson
lulzpwndyah said:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IARSEY/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I used these and they are great. Keeps the OEM look, quick simple install as long as you don't take the OEM off and put it back on like me haha
completely stopped my hood from moving and it's not the same stretchy material as the oem ones. I recommend them.

I also went with these over others because the ones with locking features could cause issues in the event of a fire while offroading. with these I can simply unlatch them quickly to get the hood open.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I need new hardware too sadly.
 
Lunch Patterson said:
It looks like those have the same plastic clip that holds them together. I've heard a lot of people complaining about latches that use that plastic piece breaking, or getting worn out.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure what you mean by plastic clip? Mine are all metal...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tob, Nickgsjeep, Akitadog and 1 other person
Any way to use the old CJ style latches?

51OlWbxtGiL.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lunch Patterson
Top Bottom
Back