jcastag

So I picked up my new 2017 GT Convertible a few weeks ago and after spending time with it, washing it, etc. I am starting to see some body panels that are not properly aligned - mostly the doors are bothering me the most.

It's really not acceptable that these cars pass QC this way because I have been reading this seems to be extremely common.

I was wondering if anyone had experience with body shops realigning panels and how much that would cost.

I know it would be covered under warranty but to be honest I am not confident in a service rep at the dealership handling body alignment correction.

Does anyone have feedback on this and an idea how much it would cost ?

08'MustangDude

You can align the panels yourself...

Depending on WHAT panels, like fenders, and doors?

Look for evidence marks on bolts and washers, like this:

Look at the fender bolt and washer. Notice there is an off colored portion
on the paint? That's where the washer WAS, so that means the bolts need
loosened up, not totally loose, but enough so I can push the fender so the
washer covers the entire area. However, if that causes the hole behind it
to go off center (that is an alignment hole) then it stays where it is.

This is also a great indicator that the front end had work done, which I know it did,
it was on the CarFax report. You can check for socket scaring, which means the
bolts were removed and they have scars on them from the socket. You can look
for that, and evidence marks on hinges, and so on.

IF the panels are not lined right from the factory, then you have trial and error
lining them up, just like a body shop would. They don't have a loosen, shift,
tighten, done... Like, if the closed doors stick out a tad farther from the body
line, then you loosen the striker bolts, lightly hammer it inward, tighten, close the
door and check alignment.

There are also alignment holes, where, you should see 100% hole, and no
metal overlap. You see the hole behind the bolt there? It should be centered
100%. Any off center will show the misalignment. In my case, this means that
the rad support metal shifted. It lines up there, but the bolt does not because
the support moved, or the fender is bent/tweaked inward a little. I could put a
dowel in the hole, and then force the fender metal to line up with the washer,
thus straightening out the fender, since it's so minute, it won't matter. The gap
from hood to fender lines are even on each side.


Just look it over, and adjust where needed...