The quarter panel dent that took me 3 days instead of 3 hours

I had a 2017 Honda Civic come in last month with a sharp dent right on the rear quarter panel crease. Looked simple enough, I figured I'd have it pulled and smoothed in an afternoon. But that high-strength steel on the newer Civics just would NOT cooperate with my stud welder. I spent the first day trying every trick I knew, even called my buddy who works at a shop in Phoenix for advice. Day two I ended up having to drill access holes and use a slide hammer, which I hate doing. By day three I finally got it straight but I burned through 3 hours of extra body filler trying to get the shape perfect. Has anyone else run into this problem with the newer Honda steel?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor_patel3d ago

Holy crap, three days? I would've lost my mind by hour six on that crease. I can't believe the stud welder just gave up on that high-strength steel, that's insane. Drilling access holes on a quarter panel is a nightmare, I'd be sweating bullets the whole time. And burning through three extra hours of filler just to chase the shape, man that's brutal. Props to you for sticking with it though.

wren_brown4d ago

Ha! Oh man, I feel your pain. Had a 2019 Accord last year that fought me for four days on a door crease, the steel just laughs at normal tools.