Reviews for BOLT 7032303 Hood Lock for 18-22 Jeep Wrangler JL and Gladiator JT
Just a heads-up to others, the rivets included in the parts are STEEL rivets. As such, most single-handed riveting tools will not set them. I went to Lowe's in search of a larger riveting tool, only to learn that I had the largest one they sell. I finally found a larger two-handed riveter at a local Harbor Freight store and it worked just fine for the installation.
RECOMMENDATION: Being a locksmith, I noticed that the internals of the key mechanism were exposed at certain points of the key cylinder rotation. As such, I wrapped a couple of layers of Scotch 33 Electrical Tape around the key cylinder body to cover the two holes, through which I could actually see the springs for the lock tumblers.
As designed, I cannot see how this will not eventually acquire dirt/mud inside and lead to a lock failure. On the outside of the the black electrical tape, I also put a 1" piece of foam pipe insulation to help insure the tape always stays in-place, on those high-heat summer days.(i.e. around the outside of the lock cylinder casing, atop the black tape)
Other than that single caveat, it seems to be a hefty, well-built product that should last for years.
Easy install and seems like it will last. About 20min from start to finish.
Perfect fit. The locking mechanism is a snap to key. Since I did not have the right fitting for my rivet tool, I used bolts, washers, and nuts. This made the job a little bit more difficult. Excellent product. Directions were clear and easy to understand.
Excellent fit, easy to install and works great. 2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU
Easy install with a heavy duty rivet tool. Great product. High Quality
Wish the bolts were longer kind of a pain to put together since they are short. Otherwise great product. Rain pops up any time here so it is very handy. Great idea
Heard good things about it, like that it can work with my key
Installation was easy except for searching for dropped fastener, which was totally my fault! I used 1/4-20 bolts with nuts having attached lock nuts instead of the provided rivets. This made installation a piece of cake except I dropped a nut 4 times! Able to tighten bolt without need of holding nut on inside where getting a wrench would have been problematic. Deducted one star because the description says it eliminates hood flutter. It does not hold down that snuggly on hood. But it does prevent opening hood without the key which is the whole point. All in all, a good product.
The Center Grill with the opening for the Hood Lock for JLU Wrangler is indeed a shade darker than the OEM Center Grill and the other 2 Grills that comes from the Jeep factory, as one other reviewer had conveyed. Bolt assured me it was the same color before I purchased, believing that a color upgrade on the Grill had been made by Bolt. It has not as of Jan. 2021.
The color is off slightly on the new insert. It's possible my original could have faded in the 2 months since I received the new JL. It's not bad but it is definitely noticeable. The instructions and video show to turn the key clockwise until it stops, I did that and... nothing... It would turn back to the left and right and not engage the locking mechanism. I forcefully rotated it a few more times and was about to give up when I just decided to see how far I could rotate it and forcefully turn it much harder and further than I normally would for fear of breaking it as I would be returning it if it didn't work and there was a forceful click and loud popping sound then it turned much further and the locking mechanic started working. The videos I watched showed it was just a short turn to the right at about the 3 o'clock position where mine stopped the first time but nothing happened with my lock at that point. The lock itself works and no issue with mounting however it doesn't hold the hood as tightly as the previous brand of hood lock I had for my JK. I am giving it four stars but if I had it to do over again I would look for other options.