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Home / Collision Repair News / What's The Difference Between Sectioning And Partial Replacement?

What's The Difference Between Sectioning And Partial Replacement?

Posted on 28 August 2015 | Share: | Print Print
A new seam was created and welded to replace the damaged part.

What is the difference between sectioning and partial replacement? Let's take a look and add some clarification.

Factory seams are where two parts are welded together during vehicle assembly using spot welds, rivets, fillet welds, etc. Partial part replacement is defined as replacing a part at a factory seam. This requires removing the original attachment method to disassemble an assembly at a factory seam.

Sectioning is defined as the process of cutting a portion of a part, away from a factory seam. This location is based on vehicle maker procedures. Some vehicle makers offer multiple sectioning locations for a part. When "sectioning" a part, the technician will create a new repair joint that did not exist prior to repairs. This may mean sectioning the service part and installing that sectioned portion of the service part on the vehicle using a sectioning joint.

The OEM Partial Part Replacement Search is a search tool to identify which vehicles have replacement procedures available, including sectioning or partial replacement at factory seams.

Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:
A Video Tour of the RTS Portal: OEM Partial Part Replacement Search
How to Use the OEM Partial Part Replacement Search

Related I-CAR Courses

Course Panel Removal and Preparation for Installation

Course Part Replacement at Factory Seams

Course Sectioning Overview

Course Sectioning Scenarios

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