Freelander Service Procedures
PANEL REPAIRS
WELDING PROCEDURES 77-2-17
Seat belt anchorages
Seat belt anchorages are safety critical. When making repairs in these areas, it is essential to follow design
specifications. Note that High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel may be used for seat belt anchorages.
Where possible, the original production assembly should be used, complete with its seat belt anchorages, or the cut
line should be so arranged that the original seat belt anchorage is not disturbed.
All welds within 250mm (9.842) of seat belt anchorages must be carefully checked for weld quality, including spacing
of spot welds.
warn : Body parts incorporating seat belt anchorages MUST be renewed completely if damaged beyond repair, as the
welds in these areas are safety critical and cannot be disturbed.
High Strength Steels
Body panels are being increasingly manufactured in high strength steels to meet design requirements for safety and
weight saving. As panels in high strength steels cannot be visually identified by the repairer, and as they can be more
sensitive to excess heat than would be the case with low carbon steels, it is advisable that the following procedure be
observed at all times.
While individual repairs will differ in detail, the following Panel Replacement Procedure has been devised placing
emphasis on ease of repair and the elimination of unnecessary work. Where replacement of a particular panel
involves departure from the Panel Replacement Procedure, a note to that effect is included in the relevant panel
replacement operation.
Straightening
Whenever possible, structural members should be cold straightened under tension. Do not attempt to straighten with
a single pull but rework the damaged area using a series of pulls, releasing tension between each stage and using
the opportunity to check alignment
Body jig
Unless damage is limited to cosmetic panels, all repair work to body members must be carried out on a body jig, to
ensure that impact damage has not spread into more remote parts of the structure. Mounting on a jig will also ensure
that the straightening and panel replacement procedures do not cause further distortion. If original dimensions cannot
be satisfactorily restored by these methods, damaged structural members should be replaced. Damaged areas
should be cut away using a high speed saw, NOT an oxy-acetylene torch. As a rule, body dimensions are
symmetrical about the centre line. A good initial check for distortion is therefore to measure diagonally and to
investigate apparent differences in dimensions.
Inspection
Every accident produces individual variations in damage. Each repair is influenced by the extent of the damage and
the facilities and equipment available for its rectification. Most accident damage can be visually inspected and the
approximate extent of damage assessed. Sometimes deformation will extend beyond the directly damaged area, and
the severity of this must be accurately established so that steps can be taken to restore critical body components to
their original dimensions. An initial check can be carried out by means of drop checks or, preferably, trammels.
Gauges are available which will accurately check for body twist. Where repairs necessitate renewal of a critical body
component it is recommended that a body jig is used.