You may have seen these little metal discs with locks on the hood of a modified street car or race car. Honestly, they look a bit like nipples on the hood of a car, which is weird. But did you know those weird little metal discs and locks serve a purpose? They are called hood pins and this is why some street and race cars use them.
Bonnet pins add security to your car’s safety lock
Simply put, hood pins are usually installed on the hood of a car to prevent the hood from flying up and hitting the windshield if the main lock fails. We know, it’s such a simple part; but having hood pins on the hood of your car can mean the difference between a clean run on the track and a shattered windshield.
Are hood pins really necessary?
If you’re driving a complete race car, it’s a good idea to install hood pins on it. The last thing you want on the track is a catastrophic failure just because the hood wasn’t properly secured. You definitely don’t need hood pins on a street car if you’re using the stock hood. The stock metal hood is meant to stay in place with the hood latch, so there shouldn’t be any issues there.
However, if you are planning to install a lightweight carbon fiber or fiberglass hood, it is a good idea to install hood pins. Unlike the stock hood, the safety lock on the aftermarket hood isn’t as tight, so there’s a chance it could fail.
How to install pins on the hood
If you decide to install hood pins on your car, the process is relatively simple, but a little nerve-wracking. Once you have purchased the hood pins, you will need to attach them to a sturdy part of the car. The radiator support is your best choice. According to Car ID“your kit should recommend the size of the drill bit to make the correct size holes for the pins themselves.”
After drilling holes and installing the cap pins in the radiator support, you will need to drill holes in the cap. This is the nerve-wracking part. You must first mark where to drill the holes and then drill from the bottom of the hood.
Depending on the type of hood kit you purchase, you may need to drill smaller holes for the door sill guards. After that, the process is as simple as mounting the hood pins and checking that everything is aligned.
Can hood pins on a hood help prevent theft?
Yes, even if just a little bit. Some hood kits have a locking mechanism where you need a key to unlock the pin. Also, some recessed hood pin sets can make it difficult for thieves to unlock the pin and pop the hood.
The next time you see weird metal discs on the hood of a car, know they’re there for safety. However, they can also be there for decoration or as an anti-theft measure.
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