Now that I've installed a new hood release cable ....

[davem]

....... I think I might need a new hood latch.

The cable install went well, using helpful advice from this forum.

But it still pulls a little harder than I'd like. I've lubed the latch with grease.
So maybe I should buy a new latch ? I see a NEW one on ebay for $88. I could not find the latch on Rock Auto - any other suggestions for a place to get one at a reasonable price ?

 

[vroomzoomboom]

lmc truck should have

 

[davem]

lmc truck should have

Thanks.

They do, but its $120.

Maybe the $88 on ebay is about as good as I'm gonna find.

 

[SoNic67]

Make sure the ebay one is new not from junk yard.

 

[koda2000]

i really doubt you need to replace the hood latch unless the truck was in a front end collision and bent something. before you waste money on a new latch, make sure you've managed to lubricate the latches pivot point. just putting grease on the latch wont help much. try using a spray lube to get down into the guts of the latch. try operating the pull handle with the hood open. there should be near zero resistance with the hood open. did you adjust the hood bumpers? turn them in until they just barely contact the hood. if the bumpers are too high they will make the hood latch hard to operate with the hood is closed. the hood surface should line up with the tops of the fenders. if the hood lines up well, you may need to raise the latch slightly, just and eighth of an inch can make a huge difference.

 

[rego]

As Koda more or less said, the bumper adjustment is for matching hood height to the fenders. Adjust the latch for proper release.

 

[davem]

.... did you adjust the hood bumpers? turn them in until they just barely contact the hood. if the bumpers are too high they will make the hood latch hard to operate with the hood is closed.......

I cant see how to adjust the bumpers. The is some sort of plastic covering of the locking but ............... the only reason I know this is because I tried to pop off one of the coverings that it threads into with a screw driver and broke off a portion of the plastic. I suppose if could break off the entire plastic housing, but even then, I dont see how I'd get underneath the frame it threads into to hold the nut under the frame.

I'll take a look to see how well the hood lines up with the fenders. Maybe raising up the latch will release some pressure.

In the meantime, I'll spray in some lube.

 

[koda2000]

on my trucks, the bumper consists of the rubber top cover, a threaded rod, a lock nut and the plastic captured nut on the core support. loosen the lock nut and screw the threaded rod onto the plastic captured nut. be careful not to break the captured nut. when you get the bumper where you want it, tighten the lock nut to keep it from moving.

if you'd rather not mess with the bumpers, just raise the latch a little.

 

[rego]

"Maybe raising up the latch will release some pressure."

Not maybe. It WILL. Guaranteed.

 

[davem]

Here's a video showing my hood bumpers - not sure how I adjust these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbfsOkB2pPo



And here's a video of closing the hood/fender alignment - does this look like I need to adjust it ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZK1B_6JVGc


with the hood raised, if I pop open the latch, there is very little tension on the cable.

Should I raise the latch ?

 

[koda2000]

the hood bumper's just screw in. you don't even have jam nuts to deal with. it's a little hard to tell from you pics, but it looks like your hood is a little too high. you got two choices, either lower the hood or raise the latch.

 

[davem]

I have not tried putting a wrench on the rubber bumper - I got a feeling the rubber would twist right off the post - I suspect the threads are rusted tight to the nut.

The latch only raises on one side, right ? Just the passenger side.

I've put a score/mark around the washer holding the latch in place. Got any idea how much I need to raise it ?

 

[davem]

the hood bumper's just screw in. you don't even have jam nuts to deal with. it's a little hard to tell from you pics, but it looks like your hood is a little too high. you got two choices, either lower the hood or raise the latch.

koda2000 and rego:

Thanks for the advice - I moved the latch up about 1/8" and it made a huge improvement - release is much easier now.

 

[koda2000]

koda2000 and rego:

Thanks for the advice - I moved the latch up about 1/8" and it made a huge improvement - release is much easier now.

great! thanks for posting your results.