| General Procedures | | -
CAUTION:Never apply excessive heat to bumper surface. Heat could cause the bumper to distort. When collecting exhaust fumes in service area, never attach a metal collector to the exhaust tail pipe as the heat could damage the bumper. CAUTION:Any attempt to cold - straighten a severely bent bracket may cause rupture of the welds (if any) and may also cause cracks in the bent part. Never heat the area to more than 670° C. Always use temperature - indicating crayons when applying heat to any part. CAUTION:Do not attempt to correct any serious misalignment in one pulling/pushing operation. Damage to structure may occur. To align or square up a body, take two opposite diagonal measurements between the front, center or rear pillars. Take the measurements between reference points, such as crease lines or weld joints which are diagonally opposite each other on the two pillars being measured. Since all measurements should be made from the bare metal, remove all interior trim or chassis components from the points being checked. For additional information, refer to Section 501-05 Interior Trim and Ornamentation. | | | -
Align each section proportionately, until the proper dimensions are obtained. If body alignment is questionable, refer to Underbody Dimensions illustration. | | | -
Due to the design and construction of the unibody vehicle, it is important to monitor the upper body structure while making any corrections to the underbody structure. | | | -
Roughly straighten badly damaged areas before taking measurements for squaring up the unibody body. Remove the glass to prevent breakage. For additional information, refer to Section 501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms. In severe cases, reinforcement brackets and other inner construction parts may have to be removed or cut to permit restoration of the outer shell and pillars without excessive strain on the parts. | | | -
In case of severe or sharp bends, it may be necessary to use heat. Never heat the area to more than 670° C. Always use temperature - Indicating crayons when applying heat to any part. | | |
