After a car accident and prior to auto body repair, it’s critical for a professional to thoroughly assess frame damage. Depending on the type of damage incurred, straightening out the frame is the first and most important piece of the repair process.
Frame Damage
No matter what kind of impact your vehicle has incurred, there is bound to be some sort of frame damage. In fact, to an expertly trained eye, most frame damage can be summed up just by looking at the damage.
However, in addition to the obvious visible damage, there may also be hidden frame damage under the vehicle.
Most vehicles have a unibody design, which combines the frame and body of the vehicle together. That’s why if there is visible damage to the vehicle body, odds are very good that there is some sort of frame damage, as well.
While the unibody is an efficient, lightweight design, it requires specialized tools and expertise of an auto body expert to restore the frame and body back to like-new condition.
Therefore, it’s important not only to perform a visual inspection, but also to use the latest in technological tools to confirm or further diagnose frame damage.
If the frame is not properly straightened and aligned, it can limit or further damage other functioning parts of your vehicle.
Assessment of Frame Damage
There are about 4 different types of frame damage based on the type of collision.
Sagging Frame
If the frame is uneven, the vehicle will tend to sag towards and into the uneven parts of the frame, causing noticeable gaps in the body of the vehicle.
If left unrepaired, sagging frame damage affects the performance and life cycle of coils and tires.
Twisted Frame
A twisted frame is one of those hidden frame issues. If you notice difficulty making turns or the vehicle feels shaky or unstable at higher speeds, it may be due to twisted frame issues.
You’ll need a professional to inspect the vehicle to confirm whether or not a twisted frame is to blame.
Sway Damage to Frame
If your vehicle incurred damage to any corner, it may result in sway damage to the frame.
Sway damage causes the vehicle to lean or pull more in one direction than another, to vibrate or feel unstable, and difficulty in keeping the car straight when driving.
This is a serious alignment issue which can affect the vehicle’s transmission over time.
Mashed Frame
A mashed frame results from either a rear-end or head-on collision. The vehicle is “mashed” into itself, resulting in obvious visible damage and the vehicle’s frame and body are shorter than pre-collision length.
A mashed frame can cause sagging, twisting and sway damage to other critical components of your vehicle. A professional and thorough assessment is needed for mashed frame damage and repair.
Proper Alignment and Repair of Frame Damage
At Downtown Autobody, our expert auto body professionals have access to sophisticated tools to give you the peace of mind of knowing your vehicle frame is completely inspected for any and all types of frame damage.
We pride ourselves on servicing our customers with everything from a trained visual eye to state-of-the-art technical tools, including diagnostic frame measuring and straightening systems.
From the frame to the body, let the highly skilled experts at Downtown Autobody in Rohnert Park, CA restore your vehicle to pre-collision condition and get you safely back on the road.