Aluminum Body Repair COMMERCE TOWNSHIP
Aluminum plays by different rules than steel. Separate tools, dedicated workspace, correct procedures.
Aluminum body panels are increasingly common - F-150 trucks, many Audis and Land Rovers, and a growing list of everyday vehicles use aluminum extensively. Repairing it incorrectly doesn't just look bad. It can cause galvanic corrosion that destroys the panel from the inside.
Why Aluminum Is Different
Aluminum and steel cannot share tools, work surfaces, or welding equipment. Steel particles transferred to an aluminum panel begin an electrochemical reaction that causes corrosion - often invisible until the damage is done. A shop without a dedicated aluminum workspace is taking shortcuts that come back to haunt you.
Aluminum also work-hardens differently than steel and requires different pulling techniques, rivet bonding methods, and heat application. Our technicians are trained on aluminum-specific repair procedures.
Dedicated Aluminum Workspace
We maintain a separate aluminum repair area with dedicated tools, dollies, and welding equipment that never touch steel. That's what your vehicle manufacturer requires for a warranty-compliant repair.
Rivet Bonding & Panel Replacement
Many aluminum panels are joined with structural adhesives and rivets rather than traditional welds. We follow OEM-specified rivet patterns, bonding sequences, and cure times - not approximations that look right but compromise the structural integrity of the joint.
Our Process
- 1.Panel AssessmentWe determine whether the panel can be repaired or must be replaced, and identify all affected joining points.
- 2.Dedicated Workspace SetupAll repair work is moved to our aluminum-only area with clean tools and surfaces that have never touched steel.
- 3.Repair or ReplacementDented panels are worked using aluminum-specific techniques. Panels beyond repair are replaced per OEM rivet-bonding specifications.
- 4.Surface Prep & PrimerAluminum-compatible epoxy primer is applied before paint - steel primers will cause corrosion on aluminum substrates.
- 5.Paint & BlendComputerized color match and clearcoat are applied in our downdraft paint booth.
See our other services: Collision Repair, Frame & Structural Repair, Auto Painting.