When repairing plastic, the damaged area is first “V’d”
out, or beveled. Large bonding areas are desirable
when repairing plastic because small repairs are less
likely to hold permanently. Beveling the area around a
crack at a 20 degree angle will increase the bonding
surface for a repair. It is recommended that sharp
edges be avoided because the joint may show
through after the panel is refinished.
•
Panel repair for both flexible and rigid panels are
basically
the
same.
The
primary
difference
between flexible panel repair and rigid panel
repair is in the adhesive materials used.
•
The technician should first decide what needs to
be done when working on any type of body
panel. One should determine if it is possible to
return the damage part to its original strength
and appearance without exceeding the value of
the replacement part.
•
When plastic repairs are required, it is recommended that the part be left on the vehicle when every possible.
That will save time, and the panel will remain stationary during the repair. Misalignment can cause stress in the
repair areas and can result in future failure.
VISUAL INSPECTION
Composite materials can mask the severity of an acci-
dent. Adhesive bond lines, interior structure of the
doors, and steel structures need to be inspected care-
fully to get a true damage assessment. Close inspec-
tion may require partial removal of interior trim or inner
panels.
Identify the type of repair: Puncture or Crack - Dam-
age that has penetrated completely through the panel.
Damage is confined to one general area; a panel sec-
tion is not required. However, a backer panel, open
fiberglass tape, or matted material must be bonded
from behind.
PANEL SURFACE PREPARATION
If a body panel has been punctured, cracked, or crushed, the damaged area must be removed from the panel to
achieve a successful repair. All spider web cracks leading away from a damaged area must be stopped or removed.
To stop a running crack in a panel, drill a 6 mm (0.250 in.) hole at the end of the crack farthest away from the
damage. If spider web cracks can not be stopped, the panel would require replacement. The surfaces around the
damaged area should be stripped of paint and freed from wax and oil. Scuff surfaces around repair area with 360
grit wet/dry sandpaper, or equivalent, to assure adhesion of repair materials.
23 - 8
BODY
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