
Ford, Stellantis and I-CAR discuss why some OEM replacement parts may not fit correctly
By onCollision Repair | Repair Operations
The latest issue of Ford’s On Target newsletter explains why OEM replacement parts may not have guide holes or markers in the same location as production panels, and what repairers should do when that happens.
In a recent episode of I-CAR’s “Repairers Realm” video series, Scott VanHulle, I-CAR repairability technical support and OEM technical relations manager, said collision repairers will have to adapt and noted that sometimes the discrepancy might not always be included in repair information, depending on the OEM.
For Ford, Gerry Bonanni, Ford senior damageability engineer, said the variation in the service part occurs because certain guide holes or other markers are pierced on the vehicle structure as part of its run on the assembly line after the extraction point for a particular part has occurred. An extraction point is when a part is removed from tooling and the production line to be used as a replacement service part, he said.
For example, Bonanni said the guide holes for grille opening reinforcements or apron attachments are pierced only after the body has been assembled to obtain tighter tolerances, which helps align bodylines. Because of that, repair technicians will need to cut the new guide holes.
“Commonly, if we have that situation, we include an instruction sheet, which tells the technician where to cut [and] how to modify the part,” he said.
In some cases, Ford provide templates that technicians can download, transfer to a new service part, and make the cuts, according to Bonanni.
VanHulle noted that some OEMs may provide very specific measurements as to where guide holes or cutlines need to be made.
For more information, On Target recommends consulting the Ford Workshop Manual, available at FordServiceInfo.com and to check back often as repair procedures can change without notice.
In the “Repairers Realm” video, Stellantis Body Collision Lead Lynn Rogers also talked about similar fit issues on, for example, a 2018 Jeep Cherokee outer wheelhouse and fuel fill reinforcement.
“If you run into this kind of stuff and it’s unique, give us a call or send a photo and we’ll help you through it,” Rogers said. “In this case I worked with our body in white engineering. We came up with a process using some material from the original wheelhouse and actually silk and bronze that particular piece in there and gave them the dimensions and so on and so forth that they needed to follow.”
Regarding parts not specific to any OEM, Jason Hauboldt, I-CAR subject matter expert, added, “Don’t jump to the conclusion right away that it’s the wrong part and you’ve got to get a different part coming. It might be the right part; it just might need a little bit of attention here and there.”
Images
Featured image credit: Wirestock/iStock
Jeep Cherokee photo provided by Stellantis/YouTube