Ford’s new position statement recommends that collision repair personnel use OEM-approved rivets, mandrels and rivet guns when working on aluminum structural and trim parts.
“All Ford Motor Company vehicles with aluminum structural and decorative body parts require the use of OEM structural repair rivets and the use of approved installation tools when performing body repairs,” the OEM writes. Blind rivets and solid rivets are not approved by Ford. Ford Motor Company believes that the use of OEM structural rivets is critical to the safety, reliability and longevity of our refurbished vehicles.”
Ford emphasizes that self-piercing, blind and solid rivets “are not one-size-fits-all and installation locations may not vary from Ford’s repair procedures.”
Ford said the blind and solid rivets “meet stringent specifications for material type, size and extrusion.”
In its position statement, Ford specifically focused on self-piercing rivets and warned of possible variations in OEM rivets and spindles on its vehicles.
“Self-piercing rivets (SPR) provide high-strength, airtight connections that are compatible with adhesives and sealants and can hold two- or multi-ply stacks together,” Ford writes.
”To properly perform aluminum repairs on Ford vehicles, a variety of unique SPR rivets are required. Each rivet is specific to its location and is required to meet the structural repair requirements. The Ford repair procedure identifies the required rivet locations and part number. ……
“Each SPR rivet requires the use of a specific mandrel during installation. The SPR setting mandrel determines the correct depth and distribution of SPR rivets. Ford repair procedures specify the correct mandrel to use during repairs. “Following Ford repair procedures is essential to ensure that it is critical that the rivets are driven to the correct depth to achieve a safe, quality connection.”
As of June 1, Ford approved only 11 self-piercing rivet guns, according to the OEM.
These include the 6-ton Car-O-Liner PNP90, 10-ton Car-O-Liner PNP90 XT2 (10-ton), Chief Basic Rivet Gun Kit, CMO SPR Gun, Henrob Self-Punching Rivet Kit, Electro-Hydraulic Pro Spot. SPR rivet gun set, SPR Spanesi guns, TKR 6 ton group PNP90 UN 2.0, TKR 6 ton group VAS 6790, TKR 10 ton group PNP90 SNW XT and Wielander and Schill XPress 800.
“Proper installation of SPR rivets requires installation tools capable of performing correct and repeatable installation of SPR rivets,” Ford wrote on June 1. “Ford Motor Company has tested and certified the following SPR installation tools. These SPR installation tools are the only tools approved for use on Ford vehicles.”
Ford also assured repairers that in some cases, OEM procedures require connectors different from those the automaker uses at the factory. Remain calm and follow the repair manual, the automaker says.
“When repairing Ford vehicles with aluminum structural and decorative body parts, it may be necessary to perform pop rivets or aluminum cork welds in areas where SPR rivets were originally used,” Ford wrote. “This may cause the repair to look different than Original Appearance: The appearance of the original trim or undamaged areas of the vehicle is different. This is considered normal and common among OEMs in the collision repair industry. It is important to use and follow Ford repair procedures to determine which tightening procedures need to be performed. used when repair method.” (Emphasis added.)
As mentioned above, Ford prohibits the reuse of borehole screws and instructs repair crews to replace any rivets that are specified in the instructions.
“During the original production of Ford vehicles, flow-drill screws (FDS) were used in several places,” Ford writes. “Flow Drill screws are not reusable and must be replaced with rivets specified in Ford repair procedures.”
The Wielander+Schill XPress 800 Air-Hydraulic Universal Rivet Gun and several accessories will be on display at SEMA 2015 as part of the Automotive Reliable Equipment Show. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)
Post time: Sep-18-2023
