Accident repair - how done? | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

Sat 30 Nov 2002 19:35

Accident repair - how done? - Martin Wall

Just got the car back from Direct Line after a repair to the side - two weeks without so much as a courtesy car - not fun!

Anyway, what I want to know is how they do this. My car is a 3 door hatch and the door, sill and rear side were damaged. I know they can bolt on a new door skin but how do they fix the other panels - panel beating, cut out and weld-in new parts, etc?

thanks

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Sat 30 Nov 2002 23:13

Accident repair - how done? - Dave N

Cut out and weld. How they get it all to line up, heaven knows. How strong it is, and how good the rustproofing, heaven knows.

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Sun 1 Dec 2002 03:25

Accident repair - how done? - Dave_TD

I worked in a bodyshop for 2 years, they get it to line up by eye! Clamp it into place with mole grips and hold the bumper up to see if it fits. Did that with the back end of an 8 month old K reg Astra once - three of us holding it, another guy going "up a bit, left a bit"

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