Abstract: A method for forming a vehicle closure panel assembly from outer and inner metal preformed panels disposed between lower and upper tools, includes the steps of applying a resilient material between the inner and outer panels around the area of the hem line, nesting the inner panel and outer panels into the lower tool, applying a clamp down force onto the inner panel to cause the resilient material to flow and distribute around the hem line, prehemming the outer panel, and final hemming the inner and outer panels together by over clinching the peripheral edge of the outer panel. With this method, the resilient material absorbs and distributes the final hemming forces and the outer panel peripheral edge springs back to form a flat hem.