Panel Reinforcement

Structural repair procedures for rigid panels with large cracks and holes will require a reinforcement backing. Reinforcements can be made with several applications of glass cloth saturated with structural adhesive. Semi-rigid or flexible repair materials should be used for semi-rigid or flexible backing reinforcement. Open meshed fiberglass drywall tape can be used to form a reinforcement. The drywall tape allows the resin to penetrate through and make a good bond between the panel and the adhesive. Structurally, the more drywall tape used, the stronger the repair.

Another kind of repair that can be done to repair large cracks and holes is to use a scrap piece of similar plastic and bond with structural adhesive. The reinforcement should cover the entire break and should have a generous amount of overlap on either side of the cracked or broken area.

When repairing plastic, the damaged area is first "V'd" out, or beveled. Large bonding areas are desirable when repairing plastic because small repairs are less likely to hold permanently. Beveling the area around a crack at a 20 degree angle will increase the bonding surface for a repair. It is recommended that sharp edges be avoided because the joint may show through after the panel is refinished.

• Panel repair for both flexible and rigid panels are basically the same. The primary difference between flexible panel repair and rigid panel repair is in the adhesive materials used.

• The technician should first decide what needs to be done when working on any type of body panel. One should determine if it is possible to return the damaged part to its original strength and appearance without exceeding the value of the replacement part.

• When plastic repairs are required, it is recommended that the part be left on the vehicle whenever possible. That will save time, and the panel will remain stationary during the repair. Misalignment can cause stress in the repair areas and can result in future failure.