A satisfactory exterior reflection does not prove that backside corrosion protection is intact. After PDR, determine what protection may have been disturbed and restore it according to the current vehicle procedure and approved material instructions. Record the affected area, preparation, material, application, and completion checks before access is closed.
Before accepting an electric vehicle for PDR, verify the exact vehicle, damage history, affected area, current OEM repair requirements, and the shop’s capability to complete the entire job. A small visible dent does not establish that all nearby systems are unaffected. High-voltage assessment, isolation, diagnostics, and calibration must be handled only where required and by appropriately qualified personnel following the vehicle procedure.
Prepare an aluminum PDR workstation by verifying the vehicle’s repair permission, identifying the panel and coating condition, planning controlled access, and managing tools and contamination. Do not treat aluminum as a single repair category. The exact panel construction and current OEM procedure determine whether a proposed method is permitted.
Select a PDR finishing tool by the surface feature being addressed, the contact shape and material, the available control, and the tool manufacturer’s intended use. A knockdown, a replaceable tip, and a blending hammer are not interchangeable solutions to every high spot. Reassess the reflection after small, controlled work and stop when the surface or paint condition no longer supports the plan.
PDR interchangeable tips are not automatically universal. Check the thread specification, seating geometry, available engagement, intended tool family, contact material, and permitted use. A tip that begins to screw into a rod or knockdown is not necessarily compatible or safe to load.
Validate a glue-pulling setup by controlling the adhesive, tab, preparation, application, and loading sequence while recording the working environment. Compare results on appropriate training material, not by repeatedly experimenting on customer paint. A successful pull at one temperature is evidence for that tested combination, not proof of a universal operating window.