Hood pins are generally used for race cars or fast cars normally on aftermarket hoods. If installed properly, they serve as a secondary restraint for your hood to ensure the hood does come up while driving. However, if they are not installed correctly, they may fail, possibly causing worse problems including a car accident.
Materials Needed
- Bastard file
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Eye protection
- Gloves
- Marker
- Pliers
- Ratchet
- Silicone or grease
- Small socket set
- Small wrench set
- Tape (masking or painter’s)
Part 1 of 1: Drilling a hood pin
Step 1: Measure a 6 inch distance from the edge of the hood. Measuring where your pins need to go is important as failing to do this may result in their not functioning properly.
Step 2: Mark the drill point on the hood. Put tape over hole, center the cover on the hole, and mark the drill holes with a marker.
- Tip: You may want to drill a pilot hole to ensure your holes are centered on the pins.
Step 3: Drill the hole in your hood. File any rough spots that may have happened while drilling.
Set hood down gently to ensure everything thus far is installed correctly.
Step 4: Install the pin. Do this by inserting the pin from under the hole drilled.
Install the nut provided in the install kit. Lightly set the hood on the pins allowing the grease or silicone to mark where you will need to drill on your hood. After installing the pin, put some grease or silicone on top of the pin.
At this point, install the wire connected to the cotter pin to ensure you don’t have to do any extra work.
Step 5: Install plate with nuts and bolts. Make sure these are tightened and let the hood down, installing cotter pins by pushing the pin half way through.
Do not push cotter pin all the way through.
Hood pins are a good way to secure the hood of a car, acting as a secondary means to the usual hood security mechanism. If you are concerned more generally with the safety of your vehicle, have one of YourMechanic’s certified technicians perform a 75-point safety inspection to ensure your car is in top condition.
