Why It’s Important for You That Lincoln Rejects Wheel Reconditioning in Collision Repair

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Lincoln recognizes that wheel reconditioning is a dangerous method of repair.

Lincoln is very clear that the company does not approve of any wheel repair that involves reconditioning.  If you are not familiar with wheel reconditioning, it is a process of using various tools and methods to try to repair a damaged wheel, instead of replacing it entirely.  Some methods include welding, reforming, or reshaping the wheel.  

When it comes to steel and aluminum wheel repair, Lincoln has issued a Position Statement explaining why they do not accept wheel reconditioning in any vehicle repairs.  Here’s what they say:

“Lincoln Motor Company does not approve the remanufacturing/refinishing of steel or aluminum wheels when it involves re-machining, re-plating, welding, bending, straightening, reforming or adding new material other than cosmetic coatings, as this can compromise the structural integrity of the wheel and safety of the vehicle.  A reconditioned wheel, or any wheel not approved by Lincoln Motor Company, may cause unsafe vehicle operation and performance, including loss of control which may result in injuries to the vehicle occupants or other drivers.”

Lincoln is saying, in no uncertain terms, that it’s simply not worth the risk to your life to take chances with the state of your wheels.  In its position statement, the company provides an extensive list of types of wheel damage to inspect for and these include cracks, corrosion, gouges, and other issues that are beyond superficial marks. If the wheels are damaged enough to warrant reconditioning, then they should just be replaced outright. 

Heating, welding, reshaping, and any other methods of reconditioning could compromise the structural integrity of your wheels.   Being the only parts of the car to actually make contact with the road, your wheels are essential to your safety and are worth investing in.  

 

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What wheel repairs are approved by Lincoln?

While wheel reconditioning is not approved of by Lincoln, certain wheel repairs are permitted:

“Lincoln Motor Company approves refinishing of steel or aluminum wheels only if all necessary repairs/reconditioning can be completed by cosmetic sanding or polishing that removes no metal and, instead, removes only the finish.”

Basically, only superficial cosmetic adjustments are allowed, since they won’t jeopardize the integrity of the wheel structure.  Minor sanding and polishing repairs do not involve the use of heat or reshaping that reconditioning would entail.  

 

Don’t risk voiding your warranty.

Another major reason to avoiding wheel reconditioning is that it can void your warranty:

“Lincoln Motor Company does not warrant any remanufactured/refinished wheels.”

The practice of wheel reconditioning is so problematic that Lincoln won’t even warrant wheels that have been repaired with this method.  Not only is wheel reconditioning dangerous to your vehicle and yourself—it’s dangerous to your wallet, as well.

 

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Not all shops follow these recommendations, but we do.

It’s disappointing, but some shops throw caution out the window and continue to practice wheel reconditioning, despite Lincoln’s clear instructions to avoid it at all costs.  They can get away with this because no body shop is actually forced to adhere to a manufacturer’s Position Statement.  

At our shop, we strongly believe that there’s no reason to take a chance with your Lincoln’s repair by going against the advice of the manufacturer.  Reconditioned wheels can lead to very dangerous problems down the road.  We will always replace your Lincoln’s wheels entirely if they’ve sustained damage. 

You won’t have to worry about voiding your warranty or driving on unstable wheels when you bring your vehicle to us.  We always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation to deliver the best possible repair to our customers. 

Lincoln Approves Only OEM Parts on Structural Repairs—Why That Matters to You

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Don’t take a chance with the parts that make up the foundation of your Lincoln.

It is common practice in our industry for each vehicle manufacturer to provide “Position Statements” that explain the best methods for repairing their makes and models. 

In the event of structural repairs, Lincoln has released a Position Statement recommending that only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts be used on their vehicles:

“The Lincoln Motor Company only approves repairs to structural components – (including frames, rails, aprons and body panels) – that are completed using Lincoln published repair procedures and The Lincoln Original Equipment Parts. Failure to follow these instructions will adversely affect structural integrity and crash safety performance, which could result in serious personal injury to vehicle occupants in a crash.”

Lincoln is explaining clearly and directly that your safety might be in jeopardy if you choose to use any replacement structural parts on your vehicle besides Lincoln OEM parts.

 

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How are structural parts different from any other parts?

Structural parts include floor elements, body panels, frame rails, and more that basically hold your vehicle together. 

It’s especially important to preserve the integrity of your structural components, as they are the sections of your car that can help minimize damage in the event of a collision.  These parts are designed with crush zones that are intended to absorb the energy in a collision, giving you and your passengers additional protection. 

 

Here’s the problem with non-OEM structural parts.

There are plenty of aftermarket, recycled, and salvage structural parts available, but none of them will ever be as reliable or as structurally sound as new OEM parts.  

Aftermarket parts are developed to fit a range of makes and models, so they may not fit the exact specifications for placement on a Lincoln.  That means a technician would have to bend, heat, and employ other creative methods to get the part to fit properly.  

Recycled and salvage parts might seem like a good idea, but keep in mind that it’s nearly impossible to determine the quality of their condition by the time they arrive to you.  They might be from a car that was already involved in a collision or experienced extreme weather fluctuations or simply survived general wear and tear. 

Even upon close inspection, it’s often impossible to see all the microscopic damage a salvage part might have endured.  Even very minor discrepancies in material or shape can cause a structural part to become less effective and, therefore, less safe to use on your vehicle.

 

It’s dangerous to use anything besides OEM parts in your repair.

The engineers at Lincoln have carefully designed their structural parts to work together seamlessly.  According to Lincoln: 

“The structural component repair procedures and repair-specific parts approved by Lincoln have been validated through testing by Lincoln engineers to return repaired vehicles to the intended level of form, function, performance and safety as our engineers originally specified.  Alternative structural component repair procedures and/or parts approved by others are not approved by The Lincoln Motor Company. Should alternative structural component repair procedures and/or parts be used, repairers should be aware of the potential liability they incur.”

They are saying that disrupting even one structural element could throw the whole system off, leading to major problems down the road, including poor vehicle performance and less protection in a collision.

There’s no sense in taking chances with your safety. 

OEM parts are higher quality than aftermarket parts.  OEM parts have also never been used, never been exposed to the elements, never been rendered defective by improper disassembly like recycled or salvage parts. 

New structural parts are made to function optimally on your vehicle, increasing your car’s performance and your personal safety.

 

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While other shops might disregard Lincoln’s recommendations, we respect this information because we care about the quality of your repair.

If you’re in a collision and need to take your Lincoln to a shop for repairs, it only makes sense that you would want the job to be done as safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively as possible.  At our shop, one of the ways we can ensure the best possible repair for our customers is by adhering to the recommendations of each vehicle’s manufacturer.  

It might be surprising to you, but collision repair shops are not required to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  There’s no one actually enforcing these Position Statements, so manufacturers are putting their trust in us to do as they recommend.  

At our shop, we genuinely care about every repair we do.  Because of this, we make sure to follow Lincoln’s recommendation of using new replacement structural parts, instead of taking chances with aftermarket and salvage components. 

It is our mission to do what’s best for your vehicle’s performance and for your safety.