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auto body repair

What are the Common Repairs that Body Shops Do?

By May 3, 2021No Comments
auto body repair forest lake mn

If you’re like most drivers, you’ve encountered a car accident and need auto body repair. Most shops, like those featured in the nationwide Carwise referral network, offer a full menu of auto body services, such as paintless ding removal and detailed repairs. However, although most services are provided to repair damage resulting from a recent collision, that is not always the case. In general, here are some of the most common types of repairs body shops perform.

Paintless Dent Removal (PDR)

Body panels and doors can get noticeable dents from grocery carts, hail, and flying rocks. If left untreated, even small dents could cause more costly paint damage later. To prevent this, body shops use a process called “painless dent removal” (PDR).

A skilled technician uses an array of special tools to gently and slowly push dents back into place without harming the factory paint job. PDR is therefore a very cost-effective and long-lasting method of repairing your ride.

Auto Body Painting

Paint jobs might be necessary after an accident, to protect older cars against the elements, or to improve appearance. Body shops routinely paint damaged cars whose bodies are marred with scratches, rock chips, rust, paint swirling, or other damage.

  1. Surface is sanded down to the bare metal and cleaned
  2. Corrosion-resistant primer is applied and allowed to cure
  3. Cured primer is sanded down and the surface carefully cleaned
  4. Several layers of paint are applied with a sprayer and allowed to dry for up to 7 days
  5. Clearcoat is then applied that gives the finish a high-gloss appearance
  6. The exterior is then buffed and polished

Window Repairs and Replacements

A car’s windshield and windows can suffer damage in many ways, including chips, cracks and breaks. Some damage can be repaired while others require a total windshield replacement. Local body shops may have an auto glass specialists on staff. If they don’t have a partner glass repair shop, a technician will come out and perform the necessary window repairs or replacements before the vehicle is picked up.

Frame Testing and Straightening

Studies have found that 50% of all vehicles suffer frame damage after an accident including minor fender benders. In addition, a vehicle with a damaged frame will begin to track unevenly down the road, handle poorly and probably wear out prematurely, which can result in serious injury and even death.

In order to ensure that your frame has been safely repaired after an accident, these steps are taken by body shop technicians:

  • The frame is first visually inspected for signs of damage.
  • If any damage is present, the vehicle is then placed on a frame alignment machine.
  • By applying hydraulic force and torque, the machine straightens the frame until it is back to its original factory specifications.

After the frame has been straightened, your vehicle will track normally and be safer to drive.

How Can I Find Good Auto Body Shops Near Me?

A good auto body shop that provides all of these services can be hard to find, especially when you’re new to an area. To get some help, use the nationwide Carwise referral network. We work with a nationwide network of collision repair centers, all of which are I-CAR-certified and ASE-certified, which means they have the highly trained technicians, equipment, and services you need to restore your ride like-new again.