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:

    Engine - refitting (automatic transmission in vehicle)
    1 Reverse the procedure in paragraphs 1 to 10 of Section 6, noting the following points. 2 Check that the engine adapter plate is correctly positioned on its locating dowels. If necessary, a cable ...

    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. ...

    Fuel level sender unit - removal and refitting
    Caution: Refer to the precautions in Section 1 before proceeding. A new seal must be used when refitting the sender unit. Saloon, Hatchback and Estate models All models except 2.0 litre DOHC 1 ...