Collision Repair Training | Australia
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Collision Repair Training | Australia
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Current Events/News: Advantage Online: 2002 Archives
DAIMLERCHRYSLER’S POSITION ON STRUCTURAL SECTIONING
A Chrysler group vehicle may have a partial panel installed if specific procedures and guidelines for the service part are provided in the vehicle service manual or with the service part. Examples of current repair procedures are the front frame rail tip replacement for the 2002 and newer 1500 series Dodge Ram, which is now available, and the front frame replacement procedures for the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler. The procedure will define the section joint that should be used. When performing these repairs, refer to the Chrysler group’s most recent welding publication for weld procedure recommendations (Welding and Weld Bonding publication #81-170-03005). If the Chrysler group makes a partial service part available, the vehicle may be sectioned for the installation of the part as it is serviced. An example of this is the uniside assembly for the 2002 Jeep Liberty. The uniside may either be purchased as an entire assembly, as a quarter panel assembly, or as the front uniside assembly (see Figure 1). These assemblies include the reinforcements and should be installed at the location dictated by the service part assembly. Additionally, the outer uniside panel and some of the reinforcements may be purchased and installed separately. According to DaimlerChrysler, certain parts of a vehicle are considered primary structural parts and should never be sectioned unless a specific procedure has been published. Examples of these primary structural parts include front and rear rails, strut towers, reinforcements, floor pans and crossmembers, engine cradles, and truck frames. Bolt-on exterior panels such as hoods, fenders, and liftgates are typically considered nonstructural parts. Be aware that door assemblies may be structural due to side intrusion beams that also transfer collision energy around the passenger compartment in frontal collisions. Outer door skins are not considered structural. If none of these exceptions apply to the part that is damaged, DaimlerChrysler recommends that the service part be installed in its entirety. Any deviation from this could affect the vehicle’s ability to protect the occupants in another collision. |
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