General remarks
Unlike the previous Range Rovers model with a body bolted to the base frame, the new Range Rovers model has a load-bearing body. The new load-bearing body structure significantly increases the body's torsional and flexural rigidity. The front, side and rear parts of the body have programmable deformation zones. This means that they are able to absorb impact energy, thereby reducing the chance of injury to the driver and passengers of the car.
During the repair of the body, it is necessary to restore the geometric dimensions and strength of the body. During the restoration repair, both a decrease in the strength of the body and the strengthening of its individual parts are not allowed.
Body repair technology provides for either extracting or replacing individual panels. The repair technology chosen in each specific case depends on the ratio of the cost of work and new body panels, as well as the availability of equipment and qualified specialists. The following factors also influence the decision: waiting time for repairs, the availability of a replacement vehicle, and the time it takes to complete the repair.
The task of the engineer is to select the optimal technology and to evenly load production capacities. The instructions in this manual provide the body repairer with the recommended procedure for replacing body panels. The main goal of our recommendations is to bring the quality of repair work closer to the quality of a new car. A body restored after repair should not catch the eye of even an experienced expert, although the repair technology may differ from the factory technology. The equipment used for body repair is different from the equipment used during body fabrication at the factory.
When describing the work in this manual, the stage of carrying out the control of the car after the completion of the actual repair and restoration operations is omitted. In this case, you should still monitor the work performed, as well as check the wheel alignment. If necessary, a road test of the car should be carried out, especially if repairs have been made to systems that affect traffic safety.
If during the repair process the main units of the car were removed, then after reinstalling them, do not forget to check the level of oil or special fluid. Add oil if necessary (special liquid). It is also necessary to make sure that the external lighting devices are in good condition, check the air pressure in the tires, the presence of fluid in the windshield washer reservoir, as well as the condition of other systems, in the event of a malfunction of which the operation of the car is prohibited.
To carry out body repairs, it is often necessary to remove various mechanisms or electrical components and wiring. For correct removal and installation of components, refer to the instructions in the appropriate sections of this manual.
Despite all the variety of body types, suspensions, engines and transmissions, it is necessary to ensure the correct location of the attachment points for the following components:
- The upper attachment points of the shock absorber struts of the front suspension.
- Subframe attachment points and additional front suspension attachment points.
- Engine mounting points.
- The upper mounting points of the rear shock absorbers.
- Mounting points for lower rear suspension arms.
Additional base points can be used to check body geometry:
- Holes in the cross members connecting the sidewalls to the front floor panel.
- Holes in the frame of the radiator.
- Holes in the rear rails.
- Holes in the lower panels of the rear of the car.
The size of the openings of the windshield, rear door glass, bonnet and doors should be measured and compared with the values given, you can also take the size of the new element as a sample.
Editing and extracting
The body frame members should, if possible, straighten out in a cold state under the influence of a static force. Do not straighten the panels in one step, do the editing in several steps, after each stage check the geometry of the body and completely relieve the existing forces.
Body fastening
In all cases, except for straightening the cladding panels, the body should be installed on a special slipway. This will allow you to assess the true extent of damage. In addition, when installing the body on the slipway, the possibility of body deformation during the extraction or replacement of panels will be excluded.
If it is not possible to restore the geometric dimensions of the body by extracting the body, then the damaged panels must be replaced. Damaged panels should be cut with a cutting wheel, DO NOT use oxy-acetylene torches for this purpose.
As a rule, body dimensions are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. For an initial check of the deformation of the body, it is recommended to measure the dimensions of the diagonals and determine their difference.
Inspection of the body after the impact
As a result of each collision, the body elements are deformed. Each time the deformation occurs in different ways. The technology of restoration repair depends on the nature of the damage received and on the equipment available.
In most cases, damage can be visually determined. But sometimes there is a deformation of parts of the body, remote from the impact site.
In such cases, the body geometry should be carefully checked for subsequent restoration to the values specified in the drawings. The initial check can be done with meters or calipers (the use of the latter is preferable).
The use of special equipment for straightening emergency bodies allows you to accurately measure the geometric dimensions of the body and their deformation as a result of torsion.
Comments on this article