Trying to replace hood latch, but replacement parts are slightly different?

The first part I got was off Amazon trying to save a few bucks. It didn't fit right, and I almost thought I was going to have to cut it off to get my hood open. Luckily, I was able to pry it open with enough force.

I returned that and got a proper part from RockAuto:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=14705037&cc=1445515&pt=10747&jsn=929

Went to install it yesterday and it's... exactly the same! Which is to say, slightly different than the one that fits perfectly and is on my truck.

I've attached a number of photos to try to show you the difference, which is admittedly very small but seems to make a big enough difference in functionality.



Basically--the angle of the release hook arm is greater on the new parts than the one I have on my truck which fits perfectly. This makes it so that in order to close the hood with the new part on, you have to pull the release arm. And, also, that when you go to release the hood it doesn't open enough to get the hook out of the way.

Am I making any sense? or, are you able to see what it is I'm talking about? I'm hoping someone here has encountered this before and can tell me wtf it is that I'm doing wrong. I searched a bit around the forums and outside of very small adjustments to how you tighten the bolts, there's really no way to adjust this latch.

Thanks for your time!

 

I bought a bad one off of Extreme Terrain. I couldn't find a way to adjust it. I only paid $20 for it so it's not a huge deal but I found mine was off the same way yours is. I ended up bending my OEM latch back into shape.

 

Why does the original need replacing?

 

The metal hook where the ball fits (the ball that is at the end of the wire that goes into the hood release lever under the steering wheel) has become fatigued and loose, looks like it will soon snap off.

Hmm this makes me think my best bet might be to hit up a wrecking yard

 

Had that happen on a car once. Not a fun evening. Wound up making a method of popping the latch with a screwdriver through the grill (twist, not pry) that worked well and tossed the cable stuff.

Can't hurt to look.

Any chance the cable could be repaired with some fishing leader hardware? SS crimps and wire might work out well.

@Hook78 have you ever considered such a venture? Maybe produce 'repair kits'?

 

I’d have to see what the cable itself looks like, especially how it attaches to the lever.

I’ve definitely repaired other things that required a cable with wahoo leader cable and crimps.

 

Here's a pic through the grill at why I'm replacing the hood latch. The two arrows are pointing to stress fractures or cracks where i imagine it will soon snap off, being no longer ablet o hold the ball.

 

Ah. So I thought it was the cable that was the problem. I see now.

How is that part attached to the latch? It has to move, as the spring keeps it in tension. Does it pivot on a pin or something?

Wondering if you found a yard bit that was damaged otherwise, with that good, if it could swap out.

Also might be worth showing to a welder and see if that could be repaired. Might not be the right metal, but costs nothing to ask since you have it off the truck especially.

 

Ah. Not a cable issue.

 

Basically there's two pivot points in there, circled on this image. It doesn't seem like there's any way to disassemble this thing. Since I already have the new part I was trying to see if I could just rebuild mine, but no dice



This kind of thing has to be rare, right? I have replaced all manner of things on my truck and never encountered a part that was ever so slightly different. Just mind boggling lol

My truck was actually manufactured in '09 thought it was sold as a 2010, could this have anything to do with this difference?

 

To follow up on what I did with this.

I ended up using the part from Rock Auto--I was able to screw it in with *just* the amount of angle so that the release lever will let me open the hood. The one difference in functionality now is that I have to pull the release lever to close the hood. Not the biggest deal, I suppose, but different. I'd be curious if others have to do that.