According to the best practices, what should happen to damaged structural sheet metal before pulling and straightening?

The practice of keeping damaged structural sheet metal for attachment points is crucial in automotive damage assessment and repair. When structural components are involved, they often serve not only as part of the vehicle's overall framework but also play a significant role in ensuring the integrity of the repair process.

By retaining the damaged sheet metal where applicable, technicians can maintain critical connection points that facilitate the proper alignment and attachment of other vehicle parts during the repair process. This approach helps ensure that the vehicle is restored to its original structural integrity, which is essential for safety and performance.

Removing structural components entirely can lead to complications, such as misalignment of other body parts or loss of structural strength that can compromise the vehicle in a future collision. Similarly, leaving damaged metal as is or replacing it without thorough assessment can overlook the importance of these points, potentially leading to issues with the vehicle's performance and safety post-repair.

Thus, keeping the damaged components wherever feasible is aligned with best practices aimed at preserving the vehicle's original design and safety characteristics.