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What is the MPa of the front lower rail? What is the outer uniside made of: steel, aluminum, or composite? Can heat be used to straighten or is it cold straightening only? What are the repair limitations? These are just some of the questions that the RTS team fields on a daily basis.
FCA/Stellantis provides a construction material breakdown on various vehicle components. The information can be found in most vehicle-specific body repair manuals under: 31-Collision Information ➤ Technical Specifications ➤ Standardized Steel Identification. Although the title references steel, this area also provides repairability information on aluminum, magnesium, plastic, and composite materials. This area provides illustrations to assist in the identification of material used in the vehicle-specific body repair manual (BRM). MPa may be found within the material descriptions.
When researching make sure to review warnings and notes for important information relating to the specific-vehicle or material. For example, on a 2022 Pacifica, a warning is provided for magnesium components: “Warning...Do not grind on the component. The grinding residue is highly combustible.”
When it comes to repairing vehicle components, FCA/Stellantis also has a Use Of Heat While Repairing Damaged Structural and Non-Structural Components position statement that states:
"If heat is used to straighten structural high-strength steels, advanced high-strength steel, or ultra high-strength steel, the component must be replaced. If the damaged component requires heat for making a pull, the adjacent component, to which it is attached, must not be affected by heat transfer. Cold straightening may be used without replacement of the component..."
FCA/Stellantis added important information at the end of the document which states:
"Note: Under no circumstance is a repair of any safety-related component acceptable. No cold straightening or heat-added repair/replacement procedure may be used in proximity of a safety-related component, including, but not limited to, restraint mounting areas, supplemental restraint mounting areas, occupant safety structure, impact safety, impact bars, intrusion beams and roll-over protection. Ignoring these requirements will seriously compromise occupant safety in a future collision event, reduce the engineered qualities, and decrease durability and reliability of the vehicle."
The above referenced position statements can also be found for free at www.moparrepairconnect.com. On this website you will also find additional technical documents.
The above referenced guides and body repair manuals are located on the FCA/Stellantis pay website at: stellantisiop.com.
For additional FCA/Stellantis information, check out the following pages:
Alfa Romeo OEM Information
Chrysler OEM Information
Dodge OEM Information
Fiat OEM Information
Jeep OEM Information
RAM OEM Information
Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:
- Collision Information Website Access: FCA/Stellantis
- Step-By-Step: Accessing FCA/Stellantis Repair Information
Related I-CAR Courses
Original article published August 1, 2017