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DIY Jeep Hood Latch

19K views 49 replies 20 participants last post by  SoK66 
#1 ·
My 09 Jeep Rubicon has been having a lot of hood lift lately. I've been looking around for some new rubber straps and am blown away at the cost. New OEM from Mopar are $40 something each. All of the others are right at $100 or more for the pair. This just seems outrages to me. After some research online I found some guys doing DIY Drake Hood latches but no one had a good parts list or step by step. So here it is.

Pats List :
Grainger
2 Male Rod End, Nylon/PTFE,RH,1/4-28 P#20F913
2 Female Rod End, Nylon/PTFE,RH,1/4-28 P#20F896
1 Hex Nut, Grade 5, 1/4-28, PK 100 P#3HEE7

Total Price after Tax $47.68

Lowes
2 Hex Bolts 2' 1/4-20
2 Locking Nuts 1/4-20
2 Washers 1/4
2 Bags of nylon bushing 1/4' by 1/4' dia
2 D-clasp 2' (the bar is 1/4' round)

Total Price at low $12.37

Tools

Small Hand saw
Rubber Dead blow hammer
small round punch
10mm socket
7/16 socket
File or grinder
Allen wrench set
1/4 drill bit
Drill

Time was under 30min total.

Before


After
 

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#42 ·
You can probably find some of it at home depot the heim joints I got from from Granger. The part numbers are listed and price. the only thing I've noticed since I did this is that when I pass by an 18wheeler thw hood now caves in ever so slightly. But flutter is gone. ive ran about 2000 miles thia way and its been great. For $60 im happy
 
#45 ·
I think it startles JK owners the first time i happens and that sends them off looking for a fix. On early ones (up into early 2008 '09 M.Y. production) Jeep had a service action to install a stiffer side latch assembly. Not sure if they did an even stiffer one in the more current model years. Just another Jeep "opportunity" for the aftermarket.
 
#47 ·
The hood fluter can't be to good longterm on a hood that has the rigidity of a paper plate.On strong head winds I could feel the added drag and loss of momentum. A $20 set of Daystar hood wranglers seemed like a no brainer.

I still give credit to the OP for making his own. Nice job!
 
#48 ·
TheBoss said:
The hood fluter can't be to good longterm on a hood that has the rigidity of a paper plate.On strong head winds I could feel the added drag and loss of momentum. A $20 set of Daystar hood wranglers seemed like a no brainer.

I still give credit to the OP for making his own. Nice job!
Yes. I could actually feel the drag a few times as well on very windy days. It isn't hard to imagine a good strong gust breaking those plastic fasteners.
 
#49 ·
I do like the OPs work too.

But not to go too far with this I have 2 thoughts.

1) I don't think they will break as the secondary latch will stop the hood before it moves far enough to break them. If not, some would have broken by now, and someone on some forum would be complaining.

2) I submit the drag you feel (call it sudden loss of forward speed) is from a wind gust or semi truck, and the hood lifting is a symptom, not the cause of the sudden change in speed. These brick shaped Jeeps have so much aero drag that the hood lifting a little is a drop in the bucket.

Either way, we all like to mod our Jeeps, and the OP did a great job with very few dollars. Looks good too. I may do it for just that reason.

One vendor sells what amounts to a 1" square tube that you wire tie under the secondary latch surface making the latch come into play after just a little movement, eliminating the hood lift "problem" for about $0.50.

Sent from AutoGuide.com App
 
#50 ·
Wubicon said:
I do like the OPs work too. But not to go too far with this I have 2 thoughts. 1) I don't think they will break as the secondary latch will stop the hood before it moves far enough to break them. If not, some would have broken by now, and someone on some forum would be complaining. 2) I submit the drag you feel (call it sudden loss of forward speed) is from a wind gust or semi truck, and the hood lifting is a symptom, not the cause of the sudden change in speed. These brick shaped Jeeps have so much aero drag that the hood lifting a little is a drop in the bucket. Either way, we all like to mod our Jeeps, and the OP did a great job with very few dollars. Looks good too. I may do it for just that reason. One vendor sells what amounts to a 1" square tube that you wire tie under the secondary latch surface making the latch come into play after just a little movement, eliminating the hood lift "problem" for about $0.50. Sent from AutoGuide.com App
I have one of those on the shelf. Made by a company called 4xFix. It's a piece of 3/8" square steel tubing, about 2" long that's zip tied to the secondary latch striker. I put it on & tried it, but decided it made the hood too much of a PITA to open. You could make your own with a piece of tubing and a big ziptie.
 
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