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A key factor in collision repair is making long-lasting repairs. When a vehicle is repaired, many areas of corrosion protection are disturbed. This creates corrosion hot spots that left untreated will lead to corrosion and potentially a repair failure. However, there are certain precautions that can be taken to safely and properly restore the corrosion protection throughout the repair process. OEMs often give specifications on restoring corrosion protection. These specifications generally include seam sealer, adhesives, foam fillers, and cavity waxes. Let’s take a look at what Audi says.
Information on corrosion protection can be found in the General Information Body Repair, Body Collision Repair manual, General Information Paint manual, vehicle-specific Body Repairs manual, and vehicle-specific Paint manual. Here you can find information on where and how to restore corrosion protection.
Per the General Information Body Repair, Body Collision Repair manual, Audi states: "The standard corrosion protection must be reapplied after servicing with the materials specified by the manufacturer." Audi provides recommended products used to duplicate factory corrosion protection in the General Information Paint manual.
In the vehicle-specific Body Repairs manual, Audi illustrates the locations of adhesive and molded foam parts in the procedures. Also, found here is information on replacing molded foam parts.
Information pertaining to seam sealers is found in the General Information Body Repair, Body Collision Repair manual. Per the Corrosion Protection area of the manual:
- "Apply sealant to only primed panels"
- "Completely seal panel overlap, panel edges, butt joints, weld seams, etc. with sealant."
The vehicle-specific Paint manual includes illustrations showing the location of seam sealer, cavity wax, and undercoat.
Always follow OEM repair procedures for all repairs. Failure to follow corrosion protection guidelines can lead to the premature failure of a repair. Using the proper corrosion protection ensures a complete, safe, and quality repair.
For additional Audi information, check out the Audi OEM Information page.
Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:
- Collision Information Website Access: Audi
- Corrosion Protection Guidelines
- Step-By-Step: Accessing Audi Repair Information
Related I-CAR Courses
Article validated in 2025