Car repairs in the future - high tensile & ultra high tensile steel

[Rocketman]

I was wondering in the future of repairing rust damage on modern cars (or accident damage) what implications will be now many manufacturers are bringing out cars with high tensile or even more worrying ultra high tensile steel car platforms.

I mean will there be stuff coming on the MOT in future to cover this potential problem.

I can't see using bright drawn mild steel sheet to weld on cars as being a acceptable repair for safety reasons.

 

[hotrodder]

Personally i don't see it becoming much of an issue as cars are becoming more disposable (kinda negating the environmentalism that's forcing them to become cleaner)?

Accident repair, at least through insurance, isn't really an issue as the manufacturers think about that and come up with solutions/repair procedures hence MIG brazing where non factory joints have to made for example. The insurance industry even uses them as part of the calculations when deciding what insurance group to assign a particular model. I wouldn't be surprised if more cars end up written off at higher market values these days as they're designed to 'spread' the damage about more to protect the occupants and then there's eleventy million airbags to replace, pedestrian safety features like 'pop up' deployable bonnets* and various other parts which are non repairable for example http://collision.honda.com/honda-de...gy-uhss-structure-for-new-accord#.U0S526IfWE8

Cars don't really rust anymore with maybe a few exeptions like Mercedes (and even then it's not proper rot)? Using them as an example the last E class is probably more likely to be scrapped due to a £1600 + bill to replace a dead SBC ('fly by wire' brakes) pump that's timed out before it gets rusty enough to need welding? Pretty much every modern car is dripping with fragile emissions tat that'll probably result in it being scrapped long before it's worn out/rusty? Talking about slightly older stuff but a mate of mine scrapped a very clean late Vauxhall Omega a few years back because of an ignition switch! Apparently a used one couldn't be recoded or something like that so the choice was spend twice what the car was worth on new bits or scrap it and buy another daily hack

*http://jalopnik.com/5405312/nissan-gt-r-hits-tow-hitch-causes-18000-repair-bill

 

[norlander]

between safety,liabilty (fear of litigation) and regulation future vehicle repair/customising may be impossible-probably not in our lifetimes- but maybe for future generations.
Not entirely relevant but the Triumph 595 sports bike frame was glued up (bit more technical than that but thats what bikers referred to it as being).
I saw a scooter get T boned by a Renault, the cars wing just shattered- some kind of plastic-again not relevant to your post in regard to chassis/structural repairs and future materials used in car construction though.

On the other hand there are some clever folk about-you only have to look at what some chaps on here do and solutions to problems they come up with so the future may not be bleak.

 

[PhillipM]

Braze it, problem solved.

 

[BrokenBiker]

my Renault is designed to be a write off at a 30mph impact. Front wings are designed to smash, bonnet hinges should shear, engine mounts should bend in order to slow the car down at a safe rate. Plus the seat belt pretensioners aren't cheap to replace after a bump. I had a small rear end bump and was told if the belts had pulled then the car would be written off

 

[AndyStobbs]

I'm waiting for the day when pop rivets become an approved repair method; then we will have gone full circle.

 

[MattF]

I'm waiting for the day when pop rivets become an approved repair method; then we will have gone full circle.

I was thinking similar when I saw brazing mentioned.

 

[500e]

GLUE
http://www.jcacoatings.com/downloads/TL846 Adhesives by Manufacturer UPDATE November 2009.pdf

 

[Rocketman]

Lot are good points here.

Here is an interesting read on repairs on a Honda and it's scary stuff
http://www.i-car.com/pdf/advantage/13_Accord_BR_News.pdf

I personally doubt car manufacturers are bothered with pushing the envelope on corrosion resistance more than say what any car has within the 10-15 years been developed to. As they only work on a car lasting ten years what would be the point spending money on something which isn't necessary.

So 'if' a modern car gets to say 15-20years old I will bet it will have plenty of rust on it developing just like most 15-20 year old cars do now.

I don't think cars to people are more disposable than before it's actually the manufacturers making so with the insane amount of electronics.

No doubt just as today people will collect cars so if you get past the electric issues judging by the details on the PDF I enclosed there will be big problems fixing rust or body damage.

Worst still what about the back street garage doing repairs to a accident damaged car - can see some very dangerous cars being on the road.

Perhaps us hobby guy car repairs will just have to sick with really old cars to get our kicks at the weekend welding

 

[BrokenBiker]

easier to fix mechanically too

 

[norlander]

GLUE
http://www.jcacoatings.com/downloads/TL846 Adhesives by Manufacturer UPDATE November 2009.pdf

blimey so maybe DIY folks will use glue to fix cars in the future (I suppose in a way you could say thats not new as glassfibre might be considered as glue repairs??).
Kind of boring though, no sparks or setting fire to your jacket and trousers and no singing stairway to heaven or Arfur Browns Fire when grinding knowing no one can hear you.
I suppose you might bond yourself or your clothing to the vehicle though.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Spoke to a guy recently who says he's been glueing repair patches on with underseal for the last 20 years

Yes they are getting more complex electrically but more and more parts are repairable now by specialist firms, its created a market which previously didn't exist.

 

[Rocketman]

I have heard that using epoxy to bond door skins on is not unusual now days for repairs. But that is hardly structural so any tom dick or harry should be OK to have a blast at it.

 

[Shox Dr]

I'm waiting for the day when pop rivets become an approved repair method; then we will have gone full circle.

Already happening in the vehicle conversion industry, using Hemlocks rivets. I worked for a local firm converting vans and car derived vans to ambulances and wheelchair carriers. Cuts down on costs: No welding, as any monkey can line up two holes and pull a rivet gun

 

[KemppiFrog]

I have heard that using epoxy to bond door skins on is not unusual now days for repairs. But that is hardly structural so any tom dick or harry should be OK to have a blast at it.

My Espace has glued on exterior skin. One of the doors is a bit 'flappy' so a bit of SikaFlex should cure it.

 

[Hitch]

Already happening in the vehicle conversion industry, using Hemlocks rivets. I worked for a local firm converting vans and car derived vans to ambulances and wheelchair carriers. Cuts down on costs: No welding, as any monkey can line up two holes and pull a rivet gun

Sikaflex, the no1 consumable of the security vehicle industry!

 

[the snooper]

they will only be able to go so far with strengths of steel before it has a detrimental effect on safety in a crash, steel simply staying in its original shape or snapping quickly during impact will increase injuries to the passengers

 

[Chickenjohn]

No one will be restoring modern cars so it won't be a problem. The last classics that people care about will be from the 1980's.....

 

[the snooper]

No one will be restoring modern cars so it won't be a problem. The last classics that people care about will be from the 1980's.....

todays cars will be the classics of todays children, just like music changes through the decades

 

[Robotstar5]

I'm waiting for the day when pop rivets become an approved repair method; then we will have gone full circle.

They're already rivetting them together, Range Rover bodyshells are are built using a self piercing rivet system.