Had to pick between a full quarter panel or a section repair on a 2018 F-150 this morning

The damage was right on the body line behind the rear wheel, about a foot long. I could have cut out a small piece and welded in a patch, saving the customer maybe $300 in parts. But I know that line is a nightmare to get straight again with filler. I went with the full panel. Took me and my helper almost six hours just to get the old one off and the new one fitted. The boss was not happy about the extra time, but when we blocked it, that line was perfect with almost no mud. The customer will never know the choice I made, but I will when I see that truck in a year and the repair hasn't sunk. Does anyone else get that pressure to cut corners on time when you know the right way is to replace the whole piece?

2 comments

2 Comments

stellafisher1d ago

Man, that hits home. Used to be all about saving the shop time on jobs like that. Then I saw a repair I did on a Camaro's rocker panel come back two years later. The filler had cracked right along the weld seam and it looked awful. Ever since, if it's on a hard line or a high stress area, the whole panel goes in. The extra time sucks, but the comeback is way worse.

the_ryan1d ago

Wait, the filler cracked after just two years?