Hood Latches - Quadratec, Crown, Dorman, or Rugged Ridge?

Vtx531 · Jul 26, 2024

I would love to have Mopar but the current price looks to be $130 for the pair - yikes!

Thinking maybe Quadratec might an ok middle of the road quality for $40? I notice it has 8.8 stamped on the studs so thinking it is higher quality than other brands or especially ebay ones for $10/pair.

Anyone have good experience with hood latches other than Mopar?

I'm not interested in any of the kind that are not OEM style.

mjonesjr84 · Jul 26, 2024

I was in the same boat as you. I wanted an OEM style hood latch. I tried the replacement polyurethane straps but didn't like them. I wound up with the Kentrol latches and am 10000% glad I did. After they got adjusted, there is zero good flutter and they are very secure. IMO, worth the cost of them.

https://www.kentrolinc.com/collections/tj-hood/products/mechanical-hood-catch-kit-1

Vtx531 · Jul 29, 2024

mjonesjr84 said:
I was in the same boat as you. I wanted an OEM style hood latch. I tried the replacement polyurethane straps but didn't like them. I wound up with the Kentrol latches and am 10000% glad I did. After they got adjusted, there is zero good flutter and they are very secure. IMO, worth the cost of them.

https://www.kentrolinc.com/collections/tj-hood/products/mechanical-hood-catch-kit-1

Thanks for the feedback. Anyone have experience with the other brand factory style latches?

red02tj · Jul 29, 2024

the actual latch or just the replacement rubber? If the latter, I’ve been running these flutter free for about a year

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IARSEY?tag=wranglerorg-20

deadbeat son · Jul 29, 2024

Vtx531 said:
Thanks for the feedback. Anyone have experience with the other brand factory style latches?

I’ve read positive things about the Daystar kit, but I don’t have any experience with it myself.

blamc70 · Jul 29, 2024

I just ordered the Daystars myself. Hoping they do the trick for me.

TheBoogieman · Jul 29, 2024

I went with these complete latches for $28 with free shipping. Perfect fit and 10 year warranty if anything happens to them.

https://www.am-autoparts.com/products/hood-latch/AM-32626924.html

Vtx531 · Jul 29, 2024

TheBoogieman said:
I went with these complete latches for $28 with free shipping. Perfect fit and 10 year warranty if anything happens to them.

https://www.am-autoparts.com/products/hood-latch/AM-32626924.html

How long have they been holding up? Perfect fit but is the quality okay?

red02tj said:
the actual latch or just the replacement rubber? If the latter, I’ve been running these flutter free for about a year

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IARSEY?tag=wranglerorg-20

The actual latch. My oem ones got destroyed when I removed them.

Mike_H · Jul 29, 2024

I used the day star poly replacement straps in my old latches. They put so much strain on the little legs that over time they deformed and I lost tension. I replaced them with used ones from eBay for about 15 bucks. I’m starting to get some hood flutter again, so probably time to get another used set.

Hog · Jul 29, 2024

red02tj said:
the actual latch or just the replacement rubber? If the latter, I’ve been running these flutter free for about a year

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IARSEY?tag=wranglerorg-20

I have these as well.. very tight and holding up well

TheBoogieman · Jul 30, 2024

Vtx531 said:
How long have they been holding up? Perfect fit but is the quality okay?

5 years so far. I still have 5 more years on the warranty.

Vtx531 · Aug 10, 2024

Well, I went against my own usual advice of not buying auto parts on eBay or Amazon...

Got these for $10 on ebay. I had to cut off a tab that was interfering with the little rubber cushion next to it. I have low expectations but will hold the hood down for now. I'll probably get some better ones sometime in the future.

Andy-WhiteTJ · Aug 10, 2024

Vtx531 said:
Well, I went against my own usual advice of not buying auto parts on eBay or Amazon...

Got these for $10 on ebay. I had to cut off a tab that was interfering with the little rubber cushion next to it. I have low expectations but will hold the hood down for now. I'll probably get some better ones sometime in the future.

View attachment 549589 View attachment 549590 View attachment 549591

Jeep is looking good. Lots of work into this.

Vtx531 · Aug 11, 2024

Andy-WhiteTJ said:
Jeep is looking good. Lots of work into this.

Thank you!

MikekiM · Aug 11, 2024

I have the Drake knock-offs. Seem to work just fine.

I made these for my last JK... Cost me a fraction of the Drake. I have the parts list if anyone wants.

AutoCrat · Sep 12, 2024

TheBoogieman said:
I went with these complete latches for $28 with free shipping. Perfect fit and 10 year warranty if anything happens to them.

https://www.am-autoparts.com/products/hood-latch/AM-32626924.html

Sounds good, did they come with catch bracket also? (The one goes on the hood).

AutoCrat · Sep 12, 2024

Vtx531 said:
Well, I went against my own usual advice of not buying auto parts on eBay or Amazon...

Got these for $10 on ebay. I had to cut off a tab that was interfering with the little rubber cushion next to it. I have low expectations but will hold the hood down for now. I'll probably get some better ones sometime in the future.

View attachment 549589 View attachment 549590 View attachment 549591

This Jeep is looking amazing. From the pictures it looks like you are keeping it all stock

. I know nowadays it’s all about mounting even stock size tyres with aggressive side walls but then there is something special about the one that is peaking out in the last picture

.

BTW, which tab you needed to cut off on the hood latch?

TheBoogieman · Sep 13, 2024

AutoCraft said:
Sounds good, did they come with catch bracket also? (The one goes on the hood).

No.

MikekiM · Sep 13, 2024

AutoCraft said:
Sounds good, did they come with catch bracket also? (The one goes on the hood).

Did the hood latches not work for you?

Vtx531 · Sep 13, 2024

AutoCraft said:
This Jeep is looking amazing. From the pictures it looks like you are keeping it all stock . I know nowadays it’s all about mounting even stock size tyres with aggressive side walls but then there is something special about the one that is peaking out in the last picture .

BTW, which tab you needed to cut off on the hood latch?

Thank you! - Yes keeping it all stock. The Street/AT tread is so nice and quiet when cruising around. Guess I am getting old.

Here's the tab I had to cut: It was in the way of the rubber pad under the edge of the hood.

Hood Latches - Quadratec, Crown, Dorman, or Rugged Ridge?

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