So You Wanna Weld Aluminum?
Tips to help get you through a potential ‘minefield’ on your journey to purchasing a MIG welder capable of welding aluminum.
Repairing Liftgate for ’02-’06 Trailblazers and Envoys
A valued customer has just returned her 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer to your shop with concerns about the way the rear tailgate is opening and closing. Recently, your shop repaired a large dent in the tailgate and performed the necessary steps to refinish and reassemble it properly. As you inspect the vehicle, you notice that there
Eying Aluminum Certification? Envisioning the Future
Becoming a certified aluminum repair center isn’t easy and may not be worth
it for some, but it may prove necessary
to stay ahead of the game
Get it Straight: Universal Anchoring
Universal anchoring is still the most popular frame straightening method in the U.S., but the fixture method is quickly catching up. Here’s a comprehensive look at both methods and the machines most suited for them.
Fixing Door Panels on ’07 GMC Sierras and Chevy Silverados
Your team has just completed repairs on the front cab door of a 2007 GMC Sierra. As part of the repair process, it was necessary to blend the rear cab door to achieve a proper color match. A final quality control inspection was performed, and you noticed vertical lines in the rear door that didn’t
Sectioning a Quarter Panel on the 2005 Pontiac G6 Sedan
New vehicle designs and repair procedures are being developed by manufacturers every day. Keeping up with all the various replacement methods and techniques is a daunting task. The acceptable way of doing a correct repair yesterday may be out of date today. This article describes such a repair procedure – sectioning a quarter panel on
Repairing ’05-’07 Volkswagen Beetle Rear Bumper Covers
Many times during the course of a repair, fit and finish of a particular part is critical to the final outcome. A new part that has been replaced or removed for repair may just not look the same as when it was originally installed on the vehicle. Manufacturers often publish a procedure to correct, modify
Proprietary Repairs
“Do you think that in the near future, other car manufacturers will follow Jaguar’s lead and require repair shops to be ‘certified’ to fix their vehicles?”
To Clip or Not to Clip?
“What’s the difference among what I-CAR, shops, insurance companies and car manufacturers are saying about clipping?”
Long Live the Oxyacetylene Torch
Some think the oxyacetylene torch is dead. But more than a few master techs consider it a vital tool in their arsenals, and you may too once you understand its versatility.
Handling and Repairing Ford F-150 Magnesium Radiators
One of the most requested pieces of OEM documentation in the collision industry today is “new materials, locations and procedures.” Why? Because advanced materials are becoming more popular with almost every vehicle maker due to the never-ending quest for fuel efficiency, ease of manufacturability, performance and styling. Magnesium is but one of the advanced materials
Measuring from the Inside Out
Thorough measuring inside the vehicle as well as outside leads to easier assembly and better quality repairs – with less last-minute emergency adjustments.
