Contents: Flexible panels ↧ Rigid panels ↧
Note: This section describes repair work for minor surface damage to body panels.
List of equipment and materials required to perform the work:
- Solvent for paraffin, wax, grease and silicone
- Fabric based tape
- Grinding wheels
- Drill with a three-inch chuck
- Hand grinding block
- Rubber spatulas
- Sanding paper
- Paint mixing plate
- Wooden spatula or trowel
- Nadfil (file holder)
- 3M Flexible Parts Repair Kit N05900 or equivalent.
Flexible panels
Note: The procedure below applies to fenders, bumpers and lower side trim panels (they are all made of the same material).
1. If necessary, remove the damaged panel. In most cases, the panel can be repaired without removing it.
2. Clean the area(s) to be repaired with solvent by applying the solvent with a cloth dampened with water.
3. If the damage is structural in nature, i.e. extends inside the panel, clean the back side of the panel as well. Wipe dry.
4. Sand the back surface with sandpaper, covering about 40 mm around the damaged area.
5. Cut two pieces of fiberglass of such a size as to cover the damaged area by approximately 40 mm.
6. Mix the adhesive mass (primer) from the 3M N05900 kit in accordance with the instructions included with the kit, and apply a layer of the mixture approximately 3 mm thick to the back of the panel. The overlap of the damaged (break) site must be at least 40 mm.
7. Place a piece of fiberglass fabric on the adhesive mass and cover this fabric with another layer of adhesive mass. Cover the adhesive mass with the second piece and immediately apply additional adhesive mass to this piece so that there is no unevenness.
8. Allow the repaired area to cure for 20-30 minutes at 16-27°C.
9. If necessary, trim off excess adhesive around the edges.
10. Remove all paint film from over and around the areas to be repaired. The repair material should not overlap the painted surface.
11. Use a drill and sanding disc to make a V-shaped cutout along the damage line, approximately 1/2 inch wide. Remove all dust and debris from the surface to be repaired.
12. Mix and apply the repair material. Apply a thin layer to the affected area first; then continue applying the material until it is just above the level of the surrounding polish.
13. Allow the mixture to harden for 20-30 minutes at a temperature of 16-27°C.
14. Use a file to define the outline of the area to be repaired. If low areas or depressions remain, mix and apply additional adhesive.
15. Clean the damaged area with sandpaper to clearly define the actual contour of the surrounding surface.
16. If desired, the repaired area can be temporarily protected with several thin layers of primer. Since the panels require special paints and application techniques, it is recommended to contact a specialized workshop to complete the body repair.
Rigid panels
17. Inflexible panels (roof, sides, hood and tailgate panels) made of reinforced plastic. Home repair of these panels should be limited to repairing scratches.
18. If the scratch is superficial, lightly rub the scratched area with a fine-grit paint stripper. Rinse the area with clean water.
19. Using a small brush, apply a stroke of paint to the scratch in one motion. Continue applying thin coats of paint until the newly painted surface is level with the surrounding surface. Allow the new paint to dry for at least two weeks, then level it with the surrounding paint using a polish for old paint. Finally, apply polish to the painted surface.
20. If the scratch penetrates the full depth of the paint and into the panel material, clean the damaged area as described above, then use a nylon or rubber applicator to apply glass filler to the scratch area. If necessary, the filler can be mixed with solvent to produce a very flexible mass, ideal for very narrow scratches. Before the glass filler hardens, wrap a piece of cotton cloth around the tip of your finger. Dip a cloth in the solvent and quickly wipe along the surface of the scratch. This will provide a slight concavity to the surface. After this, you can paint the surface as described above.