Choosing between a full quarter panel or a section repair on a 2017 F-150

Got a 2017 F-150 in the shop with a bad rear corner. The choice was a whole new quarter panel or cutting and welding in a lower section. I picked the section repair to save the factory spot welds up top. It added about 3 hours of labor, but the fit was perfect. Anyone else lean towards section repairs to keep more of the original metal?

4 comments

4 Comments

jakejones10d ago

Used to think full panel was the only way. Seeing a shop save all the factory welds on a job like that totally changed my mind.

evanc591mo ago

Ever notice how some shops just default to slapping on a whole new panel? My buddy's old Chevy had a quarter replaced, and they butchered the roof seam with a grinder. Took another guy a week to sort out the waves they left. Sometimes the extra time to save the factory work is the right call, even if it's not the fastest path.

stellaperry1mo ago

Ugh, that reminds me of my friend's Mustang. Some shop replaced the whole rear quarter after a fender bender. They didn't bother to save the factory trunk drop-off area, just hacked it. Like @evanc59 said, the next guy spent ages fixing their grind marks and bad welds. It was a total mess that cost more in the long run.

jade_jenkins1mo ago

You know, that line about the extra time being the right call really hits home. I used to just want things done fast on my truck. But I saw a shop cut out and weld in a small patch on a rocker panel instead of replacing the whole thing. It took them two days, but you could never tell it was damaged. The factory spot welds and corrosion coating were all still there. It made me see the value in the slow fix.