Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Awesome
I've been reading up on aluminum body panels and another "feature" of them is that they are much harder to repair if they get dented. So get ready for your insurance rates to go higher to cover the more expensive repairs these lightweight parts will bring. A lot of shops currently won't even repair them and simply replace them. A $250 softball dent in a hood is an automatic $1000 replacement repair.
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http://www.aluminum.org/AM/Template....ontentID=21182
As Quoted;
Costs
There are few fundamental differences between the repair of steel and aluminum panels, and the typical repair shop can be outfitted relatively easily for both. The difference between the material costs of steel and aluminum are insignificant in comparison to the cost of replacement parts. For an experienced technician, the labor time required for aluminum repair is equivalent to that required for steel. To gain appropriate experience, the first step is training. Such training is rapidly spreading, and those who complete instruction are more valued assets to their employers.
As the aluminum content of vehicles increases, more and more repair facilities will learn to better accommodate aluminum-intensive vehicles. As more aluminum-intensive vehicles come onto the market, repair shops will react—as they always have—to economic pressures and equip themselves to handle damage repairs, much like they did several years ago to adjust to the universal changeover to computer engine controls.
Conclusion
Comparing the relative ease and costs of repairing aluminum and steel, it is clear aluminum is not more difficult—just different. Different techniques are required, as is a clear understanding of the differences between steel and aluminum alloys and how they affect the repair process. Such understanding is readily available, as are the necessary specialized tools for proper repair of aluminum. As for training, I-CAR programs have been in existence for several years, and manufacturers and suppliers are providing the necessary instructional materials to assimilate repair of aluminum into everyday shop practices.
As automotive aluminum use continues to climb due to its performance, safety, and environmental advantages, its repair will become as commonplace and routine as that of traditional materials.