Ford Escape: Rear End Sheet Metal Repairs / Removal and Installation - Back Panel and Reinforcement

Special Tool(s) / General Equipment

Materials

Removal

  WARNING: Electric vehicles damaged by a crash may have compromised high voltage safety systems and present a potential high voltage electrical shock hazard. Exercise caution and wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) safety gear, including high voltage safety gloves and boots. Remove all metallic jewelry, including watches and rings. Isolate the HV system as directed by the Ford Emergency Response Guide for the vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury or death.

NOTICE: Battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) contain a high-voltage battery. Before cutting or welding near the high-voltage battery it must be removed to avoid damage.

NOTE: Left hand (LH) side shown, right hand (RH) side similar.

1.   WARNING: Before beginning any service procedure in this manual, refer to health and safety warnings in section 100-00 General Information. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

   Refer to: Health and Safety Precautions (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
   Refer to: High Voltage System Health and Safety Precautions - Overview (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
   

1. Remove the load space trim.
   Refer to: Loadspace Scuff Plate Trim Panel (501-05 Interior Trim and Ornamentation, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Remove the liftgate striker.
   

1. On both sides.
   Remove the rear lamp assembly.
   Refer to: Rear Lamp Assembly (417-01 Exterior Lighting, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Remove the rear bumper.
   Refer to: Rear Bumper (501-19 Bumpers, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Remove the seam sealer.
   Use the General Equipment: Hot Air Gun
   Use the General Equipment: Scraper for Straight Edges

1. Remove the spot welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Spot Weld Drill Bit

1. NOTE: Pay particular attention to adhesives and sealers to aid in installation.

   Remove the tail panel.
   Use the General Equipment: Hot Air Gun

1. Remove the seam sealer.
   Use the General Equipment: Hot Air Gun
   Use the General Equipment: Scraper for Straight Edges

1. Remove the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Spot Weld Drill Bit

1. On both sides.
   Remove the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Spot Weld Drill Bit

1. On both sides.
   Remove the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Spot Weld Drill Bit

1. Remove the reinforcement.
   Use the General Equipment: Hot Air Gun

Installation

  WARNING: Electric vehicles damaged by a crash may have compromised high voltage safety systems and present a potential high voltage electrical shock hazard. Exercise caution and wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) safety gear, including high voltage safety gloves and boots. Remove all metallic jewelry, including watches and rings. Isolate the HV system as directed by the Ford Emergency Response Guide for the vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury or death.

NOTICE: Battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) contain a high-voltage battery. Before cutting or welding near the high-voltage battery it must be removed to avoid damage.

NOTICE: The high-voltage battery in a battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) can be affected and damaged by excessively high temperatures. The temperature in some body shop paint booths can exceed 60° C (140° F). Therefore, during refinishing operations, the paint booth temperature must set at or below 60° C (140° F) with a bake time of 45 minutes or less. Temperatures in excess of 60° C (140° F) or bake durations longer than 45 minutes will require the high-voltage battery be removed from the vehicle prior to placing in the paint booth.

NOTICE: If refinishing cure temperatures exceed 60° C (140° F), the charge port light ring on plug-in vehicles must be removed.

NOTE: Factory welds may be substituted with resistance or metal inert gas (MIG) plug welds. Resistance welds may not be placed directly over original location. They must be placed adjacent to original location and match factory welds in quantity. Metal inert gas (MIG) plug welds must equal factory welds in both location and quantity.

NOTE: Left hand (LH) side shown, right hand (RH) side similar.

1.   WARNING: Before beginning any service procedure in this manual, refer to health and safety warnings in section 100-00 General Information. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

   Refer to: Health and Safety Precautions (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
   Refer to: High Voltage System Health and Safety Precautions - Overview (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
   

1. Sand to remove old adhesive and clean.
   

1. Apply adhesive.
   Material: Metal Bonding Adhesive / TA-1, TA-1-B, 3M™ 08115, LORD Fusor® 108B, Henkel Teroson EP 5055

1. Install properly position and clamp.
   Use the General Equipment: Locking Pliers

1. Install the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Resistance Spotwelding Equipment

1. On both sides.
   Install the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Resistance Spotwelding Equipment

1. On both sides.
   Install the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Resistance Spotwelding Equipment

1. Seam Sealing:
   All seams must be sealed to production level.
   Material: Seam Sealer / TA-2-B, 3M™ 08308, LORD Fusor® 803DTM

1. Drill plug weld holes.
   Use the General Equipment: 8 mm Drill Bit

1. Install properly position and clamp.
   Use the General Equipment: Locking Pliers

1. On both sides.
   Install the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Resistance Spotwelding Equipment
   Use the General Equipment: MIG/MAG Welding Equipment

1. Apply NVH foam sealant in areas noted during removal.
   Material: Flexible Foam Repair / 3M™ 08463, LORD Fusor® 121

1. Seam Sealing:
   All seams must be sealed to production level.
   Material: Seam Sealer / TA-2-B, 3M™ 08308, LORD Fusor® 803DTM

1. Refinish the entire repair using a Ford approved paint system.
   

1. Restore corrosion protection.
   Refer to: Corrosion Prevention (501-25 Body Repairs - General Information, General Procedures).
   

1. Install the liftgate striker.
   Torque: 18 lb.ft (25 Nm)

1. Install the load space trim.
   Refer to: Loadspace Scuff Plate Trim Panel (501-05 Interior Trim and Ornamentation, Removal and Installation).
   

1. On both sides.
   Install the rear lamp assembly.
   Refer to: Rear Lamp Assembly (417-01 Exterior Lighting, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Install the rear bumper and cover.
   Refer to: Rear Bumper (501-19 Bumpers, Removal and Installation).
   Refer to: Rear Bumper Cover (501-19 Bumpers, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Align the liftgate.
   Refer to: Liftgate Alignment (501-03 Body Closures, General Procedures).