Structural Straightening On Jaguar Land Rover Vehicles

What should you do when a damaged Jaguar Land Rover comes into your repair facility? Can it be straightened? What is a structural part? What type of equipment is required?

Jaguar provides information on structural repairs in vehicle-specific Workshop manuals under: 5: Body And Paint ➤ 501: Body And Paint ➤ 501-25A Body Repairs - General Information ➤ Body Repairs. This document may have some variation in name such as Body Repairs - Standard Wheelbase.

For example, per the 2024 Jaguar XF Body Repairs - Standard Wheelbase document:

  • "Jaguar Land Rover do not approve of the straightening or pulling of aluminum vehicles."
  • "If structural damage is visible, vehicle body alignment should be checked/corrected on a body repair jig."
  • "...are any panels secured with Bonding adhesive? Fixings? Weld? If yes, refer to an Authorized Structural Bodyshop facility."
  • "In the event of an aluminum structure requiring repair following a collision, vehicle alignment must be assessed (body alignment jig). Damaged panels must be removed and replaced following the appropriate procedures as listed under Workshop Manual - 5: Body and Paint."

Land Rover provides similar information on structural repairs and non-structural repairs in vehicle-specific Workshop manuals under: 5: Body And Paint ➤ 501: Body And Paint ➤ 501-25A Body Repairs - General Information ➤ Body Repairs - Equipment And Processes.

For example, per the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Body Repairs - Equipment And Processes document:

  • "Jaguar Land Rover do not approve of the straightening or pulling of aluminum vehicles."
  • "Do not use heat for pulling/straightening of body panels. For example - side members - (structural panels)"
  • "Longitudinal pulling is not approved (hot or cold)."
  • "A small amount of side to side pulling is permissible (cold)."
  • "Vehicles must be placed on an approved alignment jig during structural panel repair/replacement when stated in the workshop manual procedure."
  • "Body jig benches may be used to measure the vehicle structure as well as support the vehicle structure during panel replacement operations."

Land Rover provides clarification on structural parts and non-structural parts in this document under the area titled: Definition Of Structural And Non-Structural.

Always follow the vehicle-specific Workshop manuals when performing structural repairs. Failure to follow OEM procedures sacrifices the safety and quality of the repair.

For additional JLR information, check out the following pages:
Jaguar OEM Information
Land Rover OEM Information

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