Hood and Trunk Latches for Honda Civic ED

Hood and trunk latches, or bonnet and boot catches in British terms, hold a lid down where the factory lock is removed, weak or not trusted at speed. The range covers bonnet pins and flush pin sets, latches and clasps, quarter-turn fasteners, rubber hooks and gas dampers.

At speed, air entering the grille raises the pressure under the bonnet, while the flow over its curved top runs fast and pulls upwards. A lightweight carbon or glass-fibre bonnet can flex more than a steel one, and on race cars it often runs without the factory lock. A lid that opens on the move can fold onto the windscreen and blind the driver. Competition rules therefore often ask for extra fasteners on the bonnet and boot lid.

The types work differently:

• Pins and flush pin sets: a threaded pin on the slam panel passes through the lid and is locked above it. The low-profile 63 mm sets sit almost flush and come as pairs, with latches, pins, retaining rings, 7/16-inch stainless nuts and washers, and set screws.
• Latches and clasps: hood latches in aluminium or stainless steel from 53 to 80 mm, and metal clasps in black or chrome, some of them recessed. Versions with a key or a padlock eye stop casual opening of a parked car.
• Quarter-turn fasteners: a slotted stud locks into a sprung receptacle with a quarter turn, which suits undertrays, splitters and panels that come off often. The chassis type measures 38 × 38 mm, and the eject type lifts its stud when released.
• Rubber hooks: 62 and 63 mm hooks stretch over a catch, hold a boot lid without rattling and soak up vibration.
• Finish: aluminium is light and comes in black, silver, red, blue or gold, while stainless steel resists corrosion and wear on fasteners used often.

Place pins near the front corners of the lid, and on a road car keep the factory catch working, so the pins act as a backup. Set each pin’s height with the lid closed and aligned, so it sits flush without being pulled down. On composite lids, spread the load with backing plates or large washers, as a thin skin cracks around a small hole.

Choose quarter-turn studs to suit the combined thickness of the panels they clamp. Tether pin clips so they cannot be lost, and check every fastener before each session. Gas dampers, listed for a specific model, hold a raised bonnet open and are replaced as a pair once it starts to sag.