So what's the deal with our body panels? (2024)

FAQs

Why aren't car body panels plastic? ›

"In practice, however, the plastic panels were finicky. They took longer to produce than conventional stamped steel, and they grew and shrank when the temperature changed, requiring the cars to have wide, unappealing gaps around the doors, hood and trunk for clearance."

Auto body panels refer to the assortment of large steel sections installed around the vehicle. These steel sections provide a solid covering for the vehicle's parts and systems as well as protect the passengers from environmental elements and during collisions.

Many Materials

The fact is that today's vehicles are made from a staggering number of advanced materials: aluminum, high-strength steel, ultra-high-strength steel, boron, magnesium, carbon fiber, plastic, etc.

Designing lightweight vehicle body

There are two types of body panels: (1) outer body panels, which include horizontal panels (hoods, deck lids, and roof) and vertical panels (door and quarter panels) and (2) inner body panels, such as wheelhouse and rear floor (Fig.

Steel (iron ore)

Steel is produced from iron ore and is traditionally widely used in auto manufacturing. On average, 900 kilograms of steel is used in every car. Steel is used to construct a car's chassis and body, including the roof, body, door panels, and the beams between doors.

While aftermarket and OEM parts may be of similar quality, that may not be good enough all the time. Aftermarket parts may not fit your car perfectly because they are made by a third-party manufacturer. Aftermarket parts will always have a place in collision repair, but we advise you take precautions when using them.

With this approach, 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch holes are drilled along the seams of the replacement panel, and then the two adjoining panels are clamped together. The holes are then welded with a wire-feed MIG welder around the perimeter of the holes until they are filled.

This method is commonly used to make auto body parts and fuel tanks. Stamping: In stamping, a device called a stamping press is used with a series of dies to cut and form metal into various shapes. This is commonly used to make auto parts such as hubcaps and fenders.

EDP or Electrophoretically Deposited Paint coating is a process used by our manufacturers that helps ensure the longevity of our steel replacement parts and body panels during transportation, storage, and shipment to the end-user.

The most common thing in all vehicle is the prime mover: an engine or a motor perhaps, depending on what type of vehicle. Whether the vehicle be on the ground, on or in the water, or in mid air, prime mover should be present.

Are car body panels steel? ›

In cars, steel is used to create the underlying chassis or cage beneath the body that forms the skeleton of the vehicle and protects you in the event of a crash. Door beams, roofs and even body panels created during auto manufacturing are made of steel on most cars today.

Commonly, panels like fenders and quarter panels are made from sheet metal ranging from 18 to 22 gauge. Thinner gauges, such as 22 gauge, are often used for areas that require flexibility and are less structural, while thicker gauges, like 18 gauge, may be used for more structural components.

This is the act of completely replacing a portion of your car or truck's body instead of repairing the damage done to it. They may need to do this if the damaged area is beyond repair if using conventional repair techniques. Sometimes replacing the panel will be faster and less expensive than repairing the damage.

Naming systems

Many of the letter combinations have their origins in named trim levels, with DX and DL meaning "Deluxe," GL "Grand Luxe," SE "Special Edition," GT "Gran Turismo," and so on.

Most of the plastics used in vehicle bodyworks are thermoplastics. This is a type of plastic that it is hard when cold, but that softens when heated, which makes it easier to deform and weld, either by heat or with adhesives.

Polypropylene is used the most frequently of any plastic in automotive manufacturing. Being a thermoplastic polymer, it can easily be formed into almost any shape. It has excellent chemical and heat resistance and is generally resistant to impact.

Plexiglass, while resistant to shattering, does not break in a manner that is safe for passengers during collisions. It also poses a fire hazard as it is flammable, making it unsuitable for use in vehicle windows.

The use of bumpers in car is to absorb the shock or impact at less velocity. Metals have the ability to transfer the applied load to the other end of the body whereas plastics has the ability to absorb the load.