That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It – Not With Today’s Vehicle

For years we have repaired vehicles the same way, but that is not going to work on modern day cars. There are too may variables with all of the different types of metals and composites used, all of the electrical, air bags, and many other things to consider before repairing a vehicle.

For instance, if you try to weld on a radiator support on some of the Ford pick-ups you may find the pick-up on fire as the radiator support is made of magnesium. Many of the parts are made of ultra high strength or boron steel. It is not recommended to repair or heat these steels by many auto manufactures. Therefore, repairing a part made of ultra high strength steel may weaken the part, which could cause an unnecessary injury if involved in an accident.

Using universal methods or “that’s the way we’ve always done it” is not going to work on modern day vehicles of today or the vehicles of tomorrow.

How Do You Know How To Repair Modern Day Cars

Well, it is hard to memorize all of the different parts on every make and model, so what you are going to need to do is find out what the auto manufacture recommends. You can do this with collision repair manuals or with online databases like AllData Collision Connect. They will have all of the information that you need to identify recommended procedures to perform the proper repair or replace method.

Here is a list of some of the materials used to make car parts:

• Steel – Mild Steel, High Strength Steel, Ultra High Strength Steel, Boron
• Other Metals – Aluminum, Magnesium
• Composites – Carbon Fiber, Sheet Molded Compound
• Plastics – Many Different Types

Each material has a specific repair or replace recommendation so it is easy to see that you will need to do a little homework before starting repairs.

While were talking about doing it the way that you have always done it, read the end of ham story.

“A young woman was preparing a ham dinner. After she cut off the end of ham, she placed it in a pan for baking.  Her friend asked her,”Why did you cut off the end of the ham”?

And she replied ,”I really don’t know but my mother always did, so I thought you were supposed to.”

Later when talking to her mother she asked her why she cut off the end of the ham before baking it, and her mother replied, “I really don’t know, but that’s the way my mom always did it.”


A few weeks later while visiting her grandmother, the young woman asked, “Grandma, why is it that you cut off the end of a ham before you bake it?”

Her grandmother replied, “Well dear, otherwise it would never fit into my baking pan.”

Are you sure why you do all of the things that you do?