What are the reasons why side skirts cannot be repaired through metalworking?
3 Answers
Side skirts cannot be repaired through metalworking because the metal of the car side skirts is very hard, making the metalworking process extremely difficult. Car side skirts refer to the skirt panels installed on both sides of the vehicle body, and their functions include: 1. Reducing the reverse airflow generated during vehicle driving; 2. Enhancing operational stability at high speeds; 3. Preventing the vehicle from drifting when driving at high speeds. The impacts of rust on car side skirts: 1. The vehicle's appearance will be compromised; 2. The strength will decrease, leading to reduced defensive performance. Measures to prevent rust on car side skirts: 1. Try to park the car indoors; 2. Ensure the vehicle is parked in a dry environment; 3. Clean the gaps and sludge on the vehicle floor promptly.
Last time my car's side skirt got scraped, the repair shop mechanic directly said it couldn't be panel beaten and needed a replacement. He explained that when plastic parts like this are squeezed and deformed, the internal structure of the material gets damaged. Forcing it back into shape would either cause cracks or leave uneven dents. Nowadays, side skirts are mostly resin-glued to the frame, and the clips are bound to break during removal. The veteran mechanic mentioned that while metal parts can still be leveled with putty after panel beating, plastic parts repaired with putty are prone to cracking with temperature changes. I ended up spending 800 yuan on an aftermarket replacement part. If only I'd known to keep my car further away from the curb!
After a decade in auto repair, I've seen countless cases of damaged side skirts. These ABS engineering plastic parts warp when heated and become brittle when cold, making them impossible to reshape like metal. Last year, a customer insisted on having an apprentice use a heat gun for repairs, and the entire skirt ended up wrinkled like a fried dough stick. The main issue is that unlike bumpers which can be removed for separate treatment, side skirts are connected to body seals and underbody panels. Forcing removal might damage the chassis adhesive layer. If repair is absolutely necessary, the only option is to cut out the deformed section and splice it, but the labor cost would already cover buying a new part.
