Are Hood Pins Necessary With a Carbon Fiber Hood?

[We Are Ninja]

I just installed a CF hood, and when I hit around 90 it begins to flutter slightly. I'm not sure if it's air pushing down on it, or air trying to lift it up... It rests on the rubber stoppers where I'd imagine there'd be some give when pushing down, but as far as lifting up, the latch and the hook seem pretty solid. I'd imagine the hood is prone to move up and down slightly due to it's reduced mass since I can see the center portion pulsing along with the engine at stoplights.

The hood is gorgeous and I'd hate to drill holes in it if I don't need to...

Opinions? Advice? (uhm)

[SeR_Cyclops]

I have always heard its a good idea too, but there are many hoods on the forums that do not have hood pins. if you do get hood pins there are some that are 80 bucks but they are sick as hell but i cant remember what they are called.

[SCMP3]

i would recomend them a friend of mine had one that flew up and cracked the hood and the windshield. these are kinda pricy but they look good and they come in CF now
http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm

[evilmonkeyMSP]

not necessary but definitely recommended. the hood latch on the CF hood is more often than not just epoxied onto the CF hood so if that epoxy ever fails say good bye to being able to see lol

[foreverzero89]

jon me and hut both have cf hood w/o hood pins and are doing fine.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

its just one of those chance it things....will probably never happen but a safety caution no less...

[SeR_Cyclops]

i would recomend them a friend of mine had one that flew up and cracked the hood and the windshield. these are kinda pricy but they look good and they come in CF now
http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm

These are those hood pins they are bad ass!!!

[Gmac03]

I would say without a doubt, hood pins needed.

Gmac

[We Are Ninja]

Thanks for the replies, all.


i would recomend them a friend of mine had one that flew up and cracked the hood and the windshield. these are kinda pricy but they look good and they come in CF now
http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm
That's what I'm TERRIFIED of... Thanks for the link.


not necessary but definitely recommended. the hood latch on the CF hood is more often than not just epoxied onto the CF hood so if that epoxy ever fails say good bye to being able to see lol
The hood latch on my hood is riveted on, so I don't see it giving any time soon, but the subtle movement is unnerving.


jon me and hut both have cf hood w/o hood pins and are doing fine.
Ah. Good point. On the other hand, neither of your cars can reach the velocities mine is capable of...*

I think I'm gonna risk it for the time being, but I'll probably pick up some pins once the anxiety starts getting to me.








*I'm totally kidding...

[foreverzero89]

very funny, lol. anyway since your hood is new you really shouldn't have anything to worry about for the time being.

[zuku26]

You can always figure out a way to run a strap inside in the case that the latch does "unglue" Something with a little quick release that gives just enough space to slipe you hand in and unlatch that when poping the hood. That way the safety remains without the loss of visual appeal on the hood!!

[terbow]

It really depends on the hoods structure. For example, Fiberimages had a CF hood with a CF frame under it. It was full frame so you didnt need the pins. The APC one i had back in 99 was CF with NO frame and was more jiggly than a bowl of jello. You needed pins.

If it waivers in the wind, get pins. If it doesnt, use your best judgement cause as said above, the hinge is usually added after so it can let go with the right force.

[orng1]

I would just for peace of mind.

[Outlawstar98]

I would, because the ones SCMP3 posted up are sickkkkkkkkkk. I love the look of them.

[kudakev615]

i was in my buddys integra when his fiber images carbon hood let loose and i can say its SCARY!! my vis hood shakes like a mofo so i put pins in it when i first got it. when i swap over to my dg hood im gonna install the aerocatch flush mount kit. its much cleaner IMO
http://www.eurogearusa.com/common/images/A3.jpg

[We Are Ninja]

I take it shaking/fluttering with a cf hood is relatively common?

[kudakev615]

the vis hood on the p5 shakes like crazy but my vis hood on my old altima was stable. youve got my thinking about this now...when i install my dg hood ill rock it for a day or two with no pins and see how it behaves on the highway. just see if theres a difference in the two hoods.

[Red08Speed3]

better safe than sorry

[We Are Ninja]

the vis hood on the p5 shakes like crazy but my vis hood on my old altima was stable. youve got my thinking about this now...when i install my dg hood ill rock it for a day or two with no pins and see how it behaves on the highway. just see if theres a difference in the two hoods.

I think I'll screw around with the latch a lil' more; maybe lower it to pull the hood tighter. If that doesn't settle it down, I may take the plunge and drill holes in my beautiful hood...

[dmention7]

I have a Seibon hood on my msp. When I first installed it, it had a bit of a flutter/shake at speed, but I fiddled with the hood latch height and the rubber bumpers for awhile and I was eventually able to get it quite stable. The rear edge of the hood still flutters a little bit, but that's unavoidable due to the reduced rigidity.

I figure as long as the front edge is held firmly in place with no wiggle room, the whole thing should be quite safe.

[Rush]

I had my Gemini Composites reverse cowl hood on for .. however many years, and never used hood pins. I did get some mild fluttering when I would go above 85mph .. but think of it this way ..

How often do you go above 85mph? If you're driving around on the highway doing 90mph all the time, you're going to die in a nasty high speed collision sooner or later. Or lose your license after you get pulled over for speeding enough times.

[terbow]

Adding the front weather strip helps as well. It stops the air from getting under the hood.

[dmention7]

Good call. I keep meaning to hunt down a replacement since I forgot to remove it from my stock hood before I got rid of it.

[We Are Ninja]

Adding the front weather strip helps as well. It stops the air from getting under the hood.

I've still got my stocker, I'll try that as well.

[Outlawstar98]

I had my Gemini Composites reverse cowl hood on for .. however many years, and never used hood pins. I did get some mild fluttering when I would go above 85mph .. but think of it this way ..

How often do you go above 85mph? If you're driving around on the highway doing 90mph all the time, you're going to die in a nasty high speed collision sooner or later. Or lose your license after you get pulled over for speeding enough times.
*looks around*


What? I didn't get my license taking away yet..... LOL. They did get me going 42 in a 25.... Its on a straight road, no houses, thats only .2 miles long that connects a 40 MPH to another 40 MPH road... It was BS, Theres no reason why that road is sooo slow :P


Anyways, I Like the look of hood pins :P

[We Are Ninja]

...How often do you go above 85mph? If you're driving around on the highway doing 90mph all the time, you're going to die in a nasty high speed collision sooner or later. Or lose your license after you get pulled over for speeding enough times.

There's a trip I make into an adjoining city every weekend, and on that particular freeway, 85-90 is the median speed. To the point that I'm changing lanes to let even faster drivers pass...

[LinuxRacr]

When I get money, I'm investing in these hood pins.