Ford Kuga

 Service Manual

Body Repairs - General Information » Body Sheet Metal
Ultra-high-strength steels

These steels are predominately used for body structural components which are relevant to safety.

Despite the reduced thicknesses of the panels used, weight reduction is often achieved together with greater strength. As with high-strength steels, special types of steel are used in the ultra-high-strength steels group:

• Complex phase steels are used for door side impact carriers, bumper carriers and body components relevant to crashes. Besides high strength, they have good cold reshaping properties and are easily welded.
• Dual phase steels have the same properties as complex phase steels. Because of their high strengthening properties they are suitable for body reinforcements.
• Residual austenite steels and martensite phase steels have very high strength levels of up to 1200 N/mm2 and are mostly used in body structures relevant to crashes.
• Manganese-boron steels have ultra high strength levels of up to 1600 N/mm2 and are mostly used in body structures relevant to crashes.

Due to the use of Ultra-high-strength steels, some special points must be taken into account during body repair:

• Increased force required during straightening.
• Strong springback tendency during alignment work.
• Cutting tools have a shorter useful life.

CAUTION: High-strength and ultra-high-strength steel panels must not be heated during straightening work.

Work without applying heat when carrying out straightening work. Losses of strength will occur at temperatures as low as 250 C. The basic working methods and the tools to be used are the same however.

High strength steels

Ultra-high-strength steels

Coated steel panels