How to Install SPR Rivets Into a Car Body Panel

What is an SPR rivet

SPR or Self Piercing Rivets are a process used to join two or more layers of material without a pre-drilled or punched hole.   The action of the rivets piercing the material forces it into the shaping anvil behind, forcing the legs of the rivet to splay. This with the correct force applied gives the required strength.

SPR rivets can be used to join similar or dissimilar materials together  Always ensure the correct depth of the rivet and the correct fitment anvils to ensure to obtain the correct strength of the joint. 

Installing and removing Self Piercing Rivets and Flow Form Rivets is now required by many manufacturers in the aftermarket repair of damaged body panels.

If you're an OEM ( manufacturer approved) shop this can entail the very expensive purchase of a manufacturer-approved SPR gun such as the Jaguar approved Avdel ESN50  or the TKR Universal Riveting System PNP 90. These are just a couple of the expensive options for approved vehicle body repair shops.

Not Approved

If your not an approved shop then things are a little easier on your pocket for equipment that can perform as good if not better than manufacturer-approved.

Inserting Self Piercing Rivets, for example, is the same process no matter what tool you use whether it is approved or not.

What Pressure

Firstly the rivet tools can either be pneumatic/hydraulic or battery hydraulic but they both work the same as they both have a central push piston able to give a squeeze pressure of between 5 and 10 tonnes.

Some of the early tools were  5 tons but as manufacturers moved on to harder steels and aluminium panels, greater squeeze force is now required. Most now recommend a minimum of 8 ton. The pressure can be controlled using a regulator so as to give the correct force for each type of rivet.

Always observe the manufactures recommended squeeze pressure to ensure correct joint strength.

Below is a gauge chart for RAP (SPR)  and RFF ( Flow Form) rivets.