I-CAR Best Practice: Disassembly of a Steel Service Part at a Factory Seam

Details Posted on 11 October 2016 | Share: | Print

Periodically, I-CAR Repairability Summits are held to bring together collision industry stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop collision repair processes and best practices for repair of late-model, collision damaged vehicles. In the I-CAR Repairability Summit the topic of disassembly of a steel service part at a factory seam was discussed.

This best practice should only be applied to steel vehicle makes that do not have an OEM procedure for, or a manufacturer position statement warning against, disassembling a service part to install it at a factory seam. Additionally, this best practice does NOT apply to laser welded factory seams. Other requirements for this best practice include:

• Service parts must be 600 MPa or less. Steels over 600 MPa should not be disassembled, unless a vehicle maker procedure exists.
• Follow vehicle maker attachment methods for part installation.*
• Follow vehicle maker corrosion protection guidelines.
• Do not change the order of the panel layering (shingling) from the original part.
• Do not create a new joint. This best practice does NOT allow for sectioning of the part. This means that if the part that is being replaced requires a new joint to be cut into it, this part no longer meets the requirements for this best practice.

*If no OEM published attachment methods are available, use squeeze-type resistance spot weld (where two-sided access is available), followed by GMA plug welds. Only use MIG brazing and rivet bonding attachment methods where specified in an OEM procedure.

Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:

• Always Follow Vehicle Maker Procedures
• Welding And MIG Brazing Hotspot

Related I-CAR Courses

Course Welding Training and Certification