When we tell a customer they need vehicle frame straightening, one of the first things we hear is, “Oh, no!” It seems like a doctor telling a patient they need spinal surgery. Vehicle frame straightening is nowhere near that bad, however.
We’ll look at the case of one of our customers. He was on the interstate. Suddenly the highway turned into a NASCAR track in Daytona. Cars were everywhere. The sound of crunching, screaming fiberglass and metal filled his ears. He was hit and sent into a median divider in a split second. His airbags deployed. He was fine. His car, not so much.
Let Us Take A Look
He had no idea what to do. He called us. Our tow truck brought him into our shop. We took a deep breath. It was … crumpled.
He had a normal reaction when we gave him the news. Eyes closed, head down, hand to his forehead, shaking his head, and the expected, “Oh, no!”
It May Not Be As Bad As You Think
Old cars have solid frames. When they twist, the car is totaled. Today’s cars are designed to buckle, and the frame absorbs the force of an impact, not you.
How Is A Frame Straightened?
Precise measurements are taken and compared with the manufacturer’s specifications. Ultrasound machines give us a look at how the bending impacted the condition of the metal. We understand the damage and what we need to do to fix it.
The car goes up in the air on a lift, then chains and rams are attached to hydraulics. They are positioned in specific places to push and pull the frame back into the proper position.
What Does It Cost?
It’s hard to say. Every impact is different, so every job is unique.
How Much Time Does It Take?
Most vehicle repairs involving frame repair will take about a week to accomplish.