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An automobile comprises many different parts and components, all held within a frame. When your vehicle has endured a collision, there’s a high chance that it’s suffered frame damage. Car frame damage repair can be tricky because fixing one area of the frame may affect another area, and not all areas of the frame are easy to access and repair.
A damaged car frame can wreak havoc with how your vehicle handles. It can impede steering, hinder your suspension, imperil your safety, and reduce the resale value of your vehicle. Hence, repairing frame damage quickly and completely is advisable. You should always look for certified auto body shops for repairing frame damage in your vehicle.
Why Car Frame Damage Repair Is Important
It’s important to repair any damaged vehicle component as quickly as you can- because damage never improves by itself- and car frame damage repair is particularly critical because it can affect so much of your vehicle. The frame wraps around your whole vehicle, holding all the components in place, so if it’s damaged, your vehicle can be in serious trouble. Whether your vehicle needs major auto body repair or it’s something smaller, like dent repair, it’s wise to get it looked at quickly. But how does car frame damage repair even happen?
How You Can Damage an Auto Body Frame
Because the auto body frame is so big and surrounds your vehicle, there are many ways it can incur damage. These include:
- Collisions: A big or minor collision can damage your car’s frame in dramatic, observable ways.
- Potholes: A big enough pothole can damage your vehicle’s frame, but even smaller potholes can do damage, especially if you’re driving fast.
- Rust: Rust isn’t just an aesthetic issue, left unchecked, it can cause serious damage to an auto body frame.
- A Lack of Maintenance: Following recommended maintenance intervals and inspecting your vehicle occasionally can help avoid the need for auto body repair.
- Unsatisfactory Repairs: Scheduling a car frame damage repair is one thing, but you want to make sure the repairs are done properly by expert technicians at a reputable auto body repair shop.
How Does Auto Body Frame Damage Affect Your Vehicle?
It’s not necessarily easy to tell if you need a car body repair. Here’s what can happen with hidden damage or if you delay a car frame damage repair:
- Reduced Structural Integrity: A damaged frame reduces the overall structural integrity of your vehicle. This hinders your car’s ability to project you in the event of another collision, as it may not effectively absorb impacts. This is especially true for vehicles that have “crumple zones” that are affected.
- Bad Steering: A damaged frame can misalign the wheels, causing the vehicle to pull to one side. This affects steering and handling, making the vehicle harder to control.
- Suspension Issues: A damaged auto body frame can cause parts of your vehicle’s suspension to wear out prematurely or fail, leading to a rougher ride.
- Uneven Tire Wear: Suspension and misalignment can also cause uneven tire wear. This happens when one or two tires carry disproportionally more weight, wearing down the treads. This is one of the easier symptoms to check for.
- Increased Wear and Tear: A damaged car frame can put extra stress on other parts of your vehicle beyond the tires and suspension. These include the drivetrain, engine mounts, and exhaust system.
- Problems Off the Road: An automobile that needs dent repair or frame straightening can scare off potential buyers, lowering its resale value. Car body repair can restore the value of your vehicle. Furthermore, in some jurisdictions, driving a vehicle with a significantly damaged frame is illegal, especially if it doesn’t meet road safety standards. This could lead to fines or other legal consequences.
What Are Your Car Frame Damage Repair Options?
Depending on the type of damage your car body frame has sustained, and where, technicians might suggest various repairs. Here are some car body repairs that can restore an auto body frame:
Frame Straightening Fixes Bent and Twisted Car Frames
Collisions can cause auto body frames to become bent or twisted, which is why they may require frame straightening. This process involves the use of hydraulic rams and specialized clamps to pull or push the damaged frame back into the correct position. Frame straightening can repair visible and not-so visible problems, such as hidden or internal damage.
Dent Repair Restores a Vehicle’s Appearances and Can Prevent Rust
Simple dent repair might involve gently pushing or pulling dented metal back into its original shape from behind the panel, possibly without even needing to repaint the damaged spot. For more severe dents, technicians may need to fill the dent with body filler, sand it smooth, and then repaint the area. It’s important that technicians use high-quality, matching paint when completing a dent repair to create a seamless finish.
Sectional Frame Repair Fixes Localized Damage
Sectional frame repair involves fixing or replacing only a damaged section rather than the entire frame. This type of car body repair involves cutting out the damaged section of the frame and replacing it with a new piece.
Total Frame Replacement Is a Major Auto Body Repair
In cases of severe and irreparable frame damage, a technician may suggest a total frame replacement. This is the biggest type of car frame damage repair as it involves removing the damaged frame in its entirety.
Which Type of Car Frame Damage Repair Is Right for You?
Now that you know more about auto body frame damage and repair, what do you think your vehicle needs? Whether you’re sure you need a car body repair or if the symptoms you’ve noticed are unclear, one thing’s for certain: it’s never a good idea to delay potentially critical car frame damage repair. Therefore, you should always consult with certified collision repair professionals to determine the best repair solution for your vehicle.
Also Read: What to Do if You Hit Someone With Your Car?