Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!

Dr.Naren · 31st July 2018, 13:37

I had observed creases on both rear quarter panels of my SX4. The creases have become more prominent now. It is very prominent on left side.

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-img_20180731_120224.jpg

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-img_20180731_120140.jpg

I have observed the same in couple of other SX4's too. 2 such cases were reported on our forum long back.

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-dsc08249.jpg

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-dsc08247.jpg

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post2701859

What could be the culprit? It's not external damage for sure. Chassis flex / poor quality panel / manufacturing defect?? Confused!!

vikram_d · 31st July 2018, 13:50

Could be an issue with the rear torsion beam which is causing chassis to flex more than it's limits. This is of course assuming there was no impact of any kind.

AbhiJ · 31st July 2018, 13:50

These might be a support structure here on the inside of the panel. I suppose someone puts pressure in that area ( or stands with the cars support and pushes back ) such creases might occur.

Dr.Naren · 31st July 2018, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

Could be an issue with the rear torsion beam which is causing chassis to flex more than it's limits. This is of course assuming there was no impact of any kind.

Possible. Is there any way to prove the same?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbhiJ

I suppose someone puts pressure in that area ( or stands with the cars support and pushes back ) such creases might occur.

Yes it's a possibility because people doing that on cars is very common

.

Jaggu · 1st August 2018, 12:33

Can you share the right side image also? Is there a corresponding member inside the body panel? Where the crease line exists?

vikram_d · 1st August 2018, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Naren

Possible. Is there any way to prove the same?

One way that I can think of from the top of my head is get the rear wheel toe and camber values checked. If there is an issue with the torsion beam, those values will not meet company spec.

Edit: @Jaggu, if there was a crease on the corresponding side we would have seen a picture of it already. :-)
(Or I at least hope that we would have.)

Dr.Naren · 1st August 2018, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Can you share the right side image also? Is there a corresponding member inside the body panel? Where the crease line exists?

I don't think there is a corresponding member inside that panel. The crease on left side is more prominent. Sharing the images of both sides.

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-img_20180801_133322.jpg

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-img_20180801_133304.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

One way that I can think of from the top of my head is get the rear wheel toe and camber values checked. If there is an issue with the torsion beam, those values will not meet company spec.

That was Normal. Will check it again though.

vikram_d · 1st August 2018, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Can you share the right side image also? Is there a corresponding member inside the body panel? Where the crease line exists?

Sorry Jaggu, there was a crease on the right side after all.

Dr.Naren · 1st August 2018, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

Sorry Jaggu, there was a crease on the right side after all.

The crease is present on both sides. The other 2 cars in our forum have also shown same characteristics. It is less prominent on right side.

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-dsc08248.jpg

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post2701859

Jaggu · 1st August 2018, 14:51

hmm interesting, can you open the boot and take a picture of where the strut mounts are?

Dr.Naren · 1st August 2018, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

hmm interesting, can you open the boot and take a picture of where the strut mounts are?

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-img_20180801_151823.jpg

The location of crease on rear quarter panel is almost perpendicular to location of strut mounts.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 1st August 2018, 15:31

Well, till that quarter panel was FIAT Sedici and afterwards was Suzuki SX4. Both are having disagreements now.

On a serious note though - It seems to have developed over the years and not suddenly. I can see this in the first pic of your ownership report as well, though not as prominent -

Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels!-screenshot_201808011526012.png

Jaggu · 1st August 2018, 15:32

I think this is a lead, need to investigate if it is the stress from the mounts getting to the panel. But usually panels in those area would have some kind of reinforcement piece inside. Maybe time to add some rear strut braces

Vid6639 · 1st August 2018, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

I think this is a lead, need to investigate if it is the stress from the mounts getting to the panel. But usually panels in those area would have some kind of reinforcement piece inside. Maybe time to add some rear strut braces

I believe in sedans the reinforcement is the rear parcel shelf. Part of the reason they say a sedan is stiffer than the hatch back is due to the rear parcel shelf that connects the right and left. In hatch back is the boot area or under floor only.

KMT · 1st August 2018, 16:08

A very disturbing set of photographs, we do get shortchanged in India by global companies.

When I bought an SX4 in India in 2010, I bought because of the crash rating it got in Europe and Australia.

Then Australia began importing India made SX4 (with a 2Ltr engine I think), it was in the press in Australia and an Indian Maruti engineer from the project was interviewed, he said that the Aus version not only had more structural supports/impact bars inside, it also was made of a higher tensile steel.

31st July 2018, 13:37	#1
Dr.Naren Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,102 Thanked: 16,916 Times View My Garage	Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! I had observed creases on both rear quarter panels of my SX4. The creases have become more prominent now. It is very prominent on left side. I have observed the same in couple of other SX4's too. 2 such cases were reported on our forum long back. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post2701859 What could be the culprit? It's not external damage for sure. Chassis flex / poor quality panel / manufacturing defect?? Confused!! Last edited by Dr.Naren : 31st July 2018 at 13:41.
	(21) Thanks

31st July 2018, 13:50	#2
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! Could be an issue with the rear torsion beam which is causing chassis to flex more than it's limits. This is of course assuming there was no impact of any kind.
	(14) Thanks

31st July 2018, 13:50	#3
AbhiJ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,477 Thanked: 1,207 Times	re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! These might be a support structure here on the inside of the panel. I suppose someone puts pressure in that area ( or stands with the cars support and pushes back ) such creases might occur.
	(6) Thanks

1st August 2018, 12:33	#5
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,908 Times	Re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! Can you share the right side image also? Is there a corresponding member inside the body panel? Where the crease line exists?
	(2) Thanks

1st August 2018, 14:51	#10
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,908 Times	Re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! hmm interesting, can you open the boot and take a picture of where the strut mounts are?
	(3) Thanks

1st August 2018, 15:31	#12
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 17,185 Thanked: 73,553 Times View My Garage	Re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! Well, till that quarter panel was FIAT Sedici and afterwards was Suzuki SX4. Both are having disagreements now. On a serious note though - It seems to have developed over the years and not suddenly. I can see this in the first pic of your ownership report as well, though not as prominent -
	(16) Thanks

1st August 2018, 15:32	#13
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,908 Times	Re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! I think this is a lead, need to investigate if it is the stress from the mounts getting to the panel. But usually panels in those area would have some kind of reinforcement piece inside. Maybe time to add some rear strut braces
	(6) Thanks

1st August 2018, 16:08	#15
KMT BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Coorg Posts: 455 Thanked: 877 Times	Re: Maruti SX4 : Sudden appearance of Creases on the rear quarter panels! A very disturbing set of photographs, we do get shortchanged in India by global companies. When I bought an SX4 in India in 2010, I bought because of the crash rating it got in Europe and Australia. Then Australia began importing India made SX4 (with a 2Ltr engine I think), it was in the press in Australia and an Indian Maruti engineer from the project was interviewed, he said that the Aus version not only had more structural supports/impact bars inside, it also was made of a higher tensile steel.
	(8) Thanks