Not sure what to expect when car frame repair may be needed? As the structural support system of your vehicle, a car frame that is out of alignment can diminish safety and result in structural instability. A weakened car frame can more easily be damaged if a car accident occurs, placing occupants of the vehicle in greater danger. Shur-Way Auto Body in Maplewood MO treats customers like family because we care. Read on to learn the basics of car frame repair and to understand more about the possible repercussions of driving an automobile with a bent frame.
Two Types of Car Frames
Every vehicle has either a unibody car frame or a ladder car frame, which is also known as a body-on-frame design. Regardless of frame type, vehicles have sturdy metal frames.
Body-on-Frame Design
In times past, body-on-frame construction was used for all vehicles. Nowadays, this type of auto frame, known for high resistance and strength, is typically used only on trucks. The main part of the ladder frame is made up of a pair of rails that run parallel and are the same length as the automobile. The rails are connected with multiple cross members. The engine, drivetrain, and vehicle all sit atop the frame.
Unibody Frames
Most automobiles sold today have unibody frames. This denotes that the frame and the body of the vehicle are one and the same. If there is damage to a unibody frame, the vehicle may no longer be able to drive straight. Following car frame repair, damaged areas can remain weak.
Identifying issues with a unibody frame is easier when addressing smaller components as opposed to the whole. The following are a few examples:
- Radiator support or core support is on the front of the vehicle and is typically bolted on. This component can be replaced or removed without falling under the classification of car frame damage.
- “Unirail” is the name for two symmetrical metal beams at the front and the back of a vehicle. These areas serve as a foundation for other vehicle parts that are welded into place, and they are also among the strongest components of a vehicle.
- The rocker panels are located on both sides of an automobile between the wheels and under the doors. These panels help with door alignment when closed and provide support for them.
What Defines Car Frame Damage?
When key areas that provide structural support to an automobile have been compromised, car frame repair is needed. When the structural support is damaged, a vehicle is unsafe. A car with auto frame damage may still be drivable, but a collision would be far more dangerous due to weakened structural support. It is important to contact a trusted auto frame repair shop.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs Car Frame Repair
If you have reason to believe that your vehicle may have car frame damage, the best way to check is to bring your vehicle to a mechanic at an auto frame repair shop. Potential signs that you need car frame repair include the following:
- The frame is saggy or twisted. Gaps in the auto body are usually evidence of a compromised frame. You may also have trouble turning and notice instability when driving at high rates of speed. Ignoring this type of evidence can mean that your tires and coils wear out more quickly.
- If your vehicle leans toward one side, it is clearly misaligned and the vehicle may have frame damage.
- Crumpled zones are also obvious signs of frame damage. Crumple zones are engineered into unibody frames. In a collision, the automobile’s body folds in to absorb the energy of the impact and provide increased protection to occupants of the vehicle.
Visit Shur-Way Auto Body
Shur-Way Auto Body has served the St. Louis area since 1971. We are dedicated to customer satisfaction, and we always treat our customers fairly and with respect—like our own family members. When facing the need for car frame rust repair or car frame repair after a collision, it’s good to have a trusted auto frame repair shop to go to. Shur-Way Auto Body is here for you when you need small or large repairs, including car frame repair for structural damage. Stop by our shop at 3540 Greenwood Blvd. in Maplewood MO or give us a call today at 314-645-5540.