Repair of body deformations (damage with loss of geometric shape)
♦ If a dent appears on the T4 body , it must be removed as far as possible mechanically (straightening) until the damaged area takes a shape close to the original.
It makes no sense to try to restore the original form completely, because. the metal at the site of damage has stretched from the impact and will not fully return to its original state. It is quite enough to reduce the level of the dent to 2-3 mm below the level of the original surface. In cases where the dents are less than 2-3 mm, you should not try to pull them out at all. If there is access to the reverse side of the damaged element, then the dent can be carefully trimmed from the inside using a wooden or plastic hammer. While straightening, press the wooden block firmly against the treated area on the other side to prevent the metal from “bulging out”. ♦ If access from the back of the dent is not possible, try another method.
Drill a few small holes in the area of the dent, especially in the deepest part of the dent. Then screw self-tapping screws into these holes so that they are fixed in them. Now try to pull out the dent by pulling on the heads of these screws with pliers. Classically (by professionals), this method is performed differently: instead of holes with screws, a bar (copper) is soldered, then as described above. ♦ The next step in the repair is to remove all paintwork from the original area and from an area approximately 2.5 cm wide around its perimeter. The easiest way is to use an aerosol wash. You can also remove the paint with a wire brush or an abrasive nozzle on an electric drill, or manually using sandpaper. Preparation for puttying is completed if the metal surface is sufficiently rough and degreased (only with a pure solvent!) With an abrasive method of removing paint, it is enough to degrease the surface; for chemical cleaning, additionally treat the entire area with medium grit sandpaper. This will provide the best “adhesion” of the surface of the base metal with the putty. Restoring the salable appearance of the body is very laborious and requires some skills and accuracy, not to mention a wide range of different chemicals, so we still recommend contacting specialists.
Transmission Volkswagen Transporter . Disassembly of the CV joint T4 .