Efficient Replacement of Body Panels
EFFICIENT REPLACEMENT OF BODY PANELSRemoval
Body measurements
Before removal or rough cutting, first measure the body at and around the damaged area against the standard reference dimension specifications. If there is deformation, use frame repair equipment to make a rough correction.
Prevention of body deformation
Use a clamp or a jack for removal and reinforce at and around the rough-cutting location to prevent deformation of the body.
Removal of associated parts
Protect moldings, garnishes, and ornaments with tape when removing associated parts.
Rough-cutting of damaged panel
Verify that there are no parts (such as pipes, hoses, wiring harness, etc.) nearby or on the opposite side of a panel which could be damaged by heat.
For cut-and-join areas, allow for an overlap of 30-50 mm (1.18-1.97 in} and then roughly cut the damaged panel.
Selection of cut-and-join locations
For parts where complete replacement is not feasible, careful cutting and joining operations should be followed. If the location to be cut is a flat area where there is no reinforcement, the selected cutting location should be where the welding distortion will be a minimum.