Installing B-Pillar With Reinforcement

Fig 1: Identifying Front Side Section, B-Pillar And B-Pillar Reinforcement

Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

1. Front side section
2. B-pillar reinforcement
3. B-pillar

Fig 2: Overview Of B-Pillar - Inside

Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Information 

• The front side section must also be installed in order to fit the B-pillar with reinforcement. 

1. Fit B-pillar with reinforcement to the body.
2. Align B-pillar with reinforcement and front side section to the body and fix in place.
   1. 2.1. Fit sheetmetal parts to the body and fix in place with tensioning clamps. To fit, install the front and rear doors and adjust the contours and gap dimensions between the doors and side member according to the adjustment values. → WM 5000IN Diagram - body gap dimensions

      Information 

      • These holes, which are drilled through all three sheetmetal parts, will be used as an optical installation aid for installing the front side section later. 
   2. 2.2. Drill holes (Ø = 3 mm) from inside in areas -A and B-  on the B-pillar with reinforcement and front side section.
      Fig 3: Identifying B-Pillar With Reinforcement And Front Side Section

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
   3. 2.3. Fix B-pillar with reinforcement and front side section in place from inside in areas -A and B-  using tapping screws.
      Fig 4: Identifying B-Pillar With Reinforcement And Front Side Section

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 5: Overview Of B-Pillar - Inside

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
3. Weld in B-pillar reinforcement on the inside of the body.
   1. 3.1. Weld the B-pillar reinforcement in area -A-  using inert gas.
      Fig 6: Identifying Welded Joints On Bottom Of B-Pillar Reinforcement (Internal View)

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
   2. 3.2. Plug-weld the inner B-pillar reinforcement in area -A-  using inert gas.
      Fig 7: Identifying Welded Joints On Top Of B-Pillar Reinforcement (Internal View)

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
4. Remove front side section and B-pillar to the outside.
   Fig 8: Identifying B-Pillar

   Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

   Information 

   • The seal between the B-pillar reinforcement and B-pillar must be inserted from inside before installing the B-pillar. 
5. Fit seal on bottom of B-pillar.
   1. 5.1. On the seal -3-  , apply body sealing compound -2- Wurth Klebt und Dichtet body sealing compound  . Maintain the application depth -V-  → Application depth: 10 mm  .
      Fig 9: Inserting Seal

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 10: Identifying Application Depth For Body Sealant

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
   2. 5.2. Place seal -3-  on B-pillar -1-  from inside (-arrows-  ) and secure with the locking lugs.
   3. 5.3. On the seal -3-  , apply body sealing compound -2- Wurth Klebt und Dichtet body sealing compound  . Maintain the application depth -V-  → Application depth: 10 mm  .
      Fig 11: Applying Body Sealant

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 12: Identifying Application Depth For Body Sealant

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
6. Insert B-pillar.
   1. 6.1. Place B-pillar on the body and align it using the locating holes you drilled for installing the B-pillar reinforcement. Fix B-pillar in place with tapping screws and tensioning clamps.
      Fig 13: Overview Of B-Pillar - Inside

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
7. Weld in B-pillar on the inside of the body.
   1. 7.1. Weld the inside of the B-pillar in areas -A, B, C and D-  using inert gas.
      Fig 14: Identifying Welded Joints On Centre Of B-Pillar Reinforcement (Internal View)

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 15: Overview Of A- And B-Pillar

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

      Information 

      • To maintain the rigidity of the body, the new part for the top of the B-pillar must be installed with the remaining piece on the vehicle with an overlap. This overlap ensures that these two parts can be joined with an additional plug-weld using inert-gas welding. 
8. Weld in B-pillar on the outside of the body.
   1. 8.1. Plug-weld top of B-pillar in area -A-  using inert gas.
      Fig 16: Identifying Welded Joints On Top Of B-Pillar (External View)

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
   2. 8.2. Weld top of B-pillar in area -A-  using inert gas.
      Fig 17: Identifying Welded Joints On Top Of B-Pillar (External View)

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

      Information 

      • These areas are only tacked with individual spotwelds. A full weld is applied when installing the front side section. 
   3. 8.3. Resistance spot-weld the B-pillar in areas -A, B and C-  .
      Fig 18: Identifying Welded Joints On B-Pillar (External View)

      Courtesy of PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
9. Install lower side member reinforcement. → Installing Lower Side Member Reinforcement