Note. This section describes how to repair 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 3 inch chuck
- Block for manual grinding
- Rubber spatulas
- sandpaper
- plate for mixing paints
- Wooden spatula or spatula
- Needle file (file)
- 3M Flexible Parts Repair Kit N05900 or equivalent.
Flexible panels
Note. The procedure below applies to fenders, bumpers and lower side body trim panels (they are all made from the same material).
1. If necessary, remove the damaged panel. In most cases, you can repair the panel without removing it.
2. Clean the area (areas), to be repaired with a solvent by applying the solvent with a cloth dampened with water.
3. If the damage is structural, i.e. extending into the panel, clean the back of the panel as well. Wipe dry.
4. Sand the back surface with sandpaper, covering about 40 mm around the damage.
5. Cut two pieces of fiberglass large enough to cover the damage by approximately 40mm.
6. Mix the adhesive mass (primer) from the 3M N05900 kit according to the instructions supplied with the kit, and apply a layer of the mixture approximately 3 mm thick on the back side of the panel. Covering the damage site (breach) must be at least 40 mm.
7. Put a piece of fiberglass on the adhesive mass and cover this fabric with another layer of adhesive mass. Cover the adhesive mass with a second piece and immediately apply additional adhesive mass to this piece so that there is no unevenness.
8. Let the repaired area cure for 20-30 minutes at 16-27°C.
9. If necessary, trim excess adhesive around the edges.
10. Remove all paint film over and around areas to be repaired. The repair material must not cover the painted surface.
11. Using a drill and a sanding disc, make a V-notch along the damage line approximately 1/2 inch wide. Remove all dust and debris from the repaired surface.
12. Mix and apply repair material. First apply a thin layer to the damaged area; then continue to apply the material until it slightly exceeds the level of the surrounding polish.
13. Let the mixture harden for 20-30 minutes at 16-27°C.
14. Define the contour of the repaired area with a needle file. If areas of low level or pitting 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 a few thin coats of primer. Since the panels require special paints and application techniques, it is recommended that you visit a specialized workshop to complete the body repair.
Rigid panels
17. Inflexible panels (roof, sides, hood and tailgate panels) Made from reinforced plastic. Repairs to these panels at home should be limited to repairing scratches.
18. If the scratch is superficial, lightly rub the scratched area with a fine grit sanding compound to remove the paintwork. Rinse the area with clean water.
19. With a small brush, apply a stroke of paint to the scratch in one motion. Continue applying thin coats of paint until the surface to be painted is level with the surrounding surface. Let the new paint dry for at least two weeks, then level it with the surrounding paint using an old paint polish. Finally, apply polish to the painted surface.
20. If the scratch penetrates the entire depth of the paint and enters the panel material, clean the area of damage as described above, then use a nylon or rubber applicator to apply vitreous filler to the area of the scratch. If necessary, the filler can be mixed with a solvent to form a very plastic mass, ideal for very narrow scratches. Before the vitreous filler hardens, wrap a piece of cotton cloth around your fingertip. Dip a cloth in the solvent and quickly rub along the surface of the scratch. This will provide a slight concavity of the surface. After that, you can paint the surface as described above.