Major body damage - repair

Where serious damage has occurred or large areas need renewal due to neglect, it means that completely new sections or panels will need welding in, and this is best left to professionals. If the damage is due to impact, it will also be necessary to completely check the alignment of the bodyshell structure. Due to the principle of construction, the strength and shape of the whole car can be affected by damage to one part. In such instances the service of a dealer with specialist checking jigs are essential. If a body is left misaligned, it is first of all dangerous, as the car will not handle properly, and secondly uneven stresses will be imposed on the steering, engine and transmission, causing abnormal wear or complete failure. Tyre wear may also be excessive.

    See also:

    General description
    The cooling system is of the pressurised pump-assisted thermo-syphon type. The system consists of the radiator, water pump, thermostat, electric cooling fan, expansion tank and associated hoses. ...

    Rear suspension/final drive unit rear mounting (Saloon, Hatchback and Estate models) - renewal
    Note: From May 1986, revised rear suspension/final drive unit rear mounting bolts have been used in production. Whenever the earlier type of bolts are removed, they should be discarded and the lat ...

    Rear brake backplate (drum brakes) - removal and refitting
    Caution: Refer to the precautions in Section 1. Saloon, Hatchback and Estate models 1 Remove the rear brake shoes. 2 Disconnect the handbrake cable from the backplate by extracting the U-clip. ...