If you are scouring the web for information about car frame damage, you have plainly had a tough week.
The framework of your vehicle is its foundation, its structural skeleton. If it is damaged, it may be perilous to proceed driving.
What is frame destruction on a car?
It typically refers to when a structural component on the frame of a vehicle has been compromised. Though, it doesn’t always indicate a substantial amount of damage.
It may just be that there’s a dent or scratch in a vital area that makes it unsafe to drive.
Thankfully, in this practical guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about frame damage.
Initially, we will examine the most common frame type, which is unibody. After that, we’ll analyze what factors determine if your car experiences frame damage, and the cost you might incur to fix it.
Let’s get the basics down first!
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A Closer Look At A Unibody Frame
What is a unibody frame? It essentially just means that the body of the vehicle, its floor plan, and its chassis all form a single structure.
This type of frame not only reduces weight, which enhances fuel efficiency, but it also provides excellent handling and improves ride quality. For these reasons, a unibody frame is the most prevalent construction method on most passenger vehicles.
The other type of frame design is known as a body-on-frame (or ladder frame). This type used to be the standard, but now it’s only found in trucks and massive SUVs due to the immense strength and resistance it offers.
To help identify issues, automotive technicians and mechanics divide unibody frames into smaller segments.
Let’s examine each of these now!
Unirail
These are two symmetrical beams on both the front and rear of the vehicle. Because of their sturdiness, they serve as a foundation for other frame components.
Core/Radiator Support
A central support (also known as a radiator support) is a metallic structure that surrounds the radiator, securing it in position.
Most of the time, this component is attached on, meaning it can easily be replaced if it sustains damage.
Strut Tower/Apron Assembly
Cars have front aprons and rear aprons, which are structures that hold the struts in position. The strut tower is part of the apron assembly, which helps prevent chassis flex while turning.
Floor Pan
The floor base is a metallic plate that’s attached to some cross sections, creating the bottom of the vehicle. It has a few openings and grooves made for the drivetrain parts and electric wiring.
Firewall
The firewall is the essential component that separates the engine bay from the passenger compartment. It’s typically composed of a sheet of pressed 14- to 18-gauge steel clad with a layer of sound-reducing materials.
A/B/C Pillars
These are the upright supports of a car. The letter “A” refers to the pillar closest to the front, “B” is in the middle, and “C” is in the rear.
Some vehicles, like roomy SUVs or minivans, also have a “D” pillar.
Quarter Panel
A quarter panel is the sheet metal that forms the passenger- and driver-side rear sections. They comprise the region around the rear tires, as well as where the fuel cap is.
While they’re typically made of metal, in some vehicles, they’re made of carbon fiber or fiberglass to help reduce weight.
Rocker Panel
A rocker panel comprises the region between the front and rear wheels beneath the doors.
Their purpose is to support the doors, ensuring they stay aligned when closed.
Rear Support
The rear support encompasses the back section of the frame, including the floorboards, rear bumper support, and a pair of unirails.
Now that you have a more precise idea of what your frame encompasses. Let’s look at how to check for frame damage.
How To Tell If Your Car Has Frame Damage
It doesn’t take too much for a car to end up with serious damage. Here are a few signs to watch out for:
- Visibly bent or damaged
- Alignment is off
- Wheels don’t track correctly
- Panels don’t line-up
- Uneven tire wear
- Unusual sounds
- Uneven suspension wear
Each of the aforementioned signs typically corresponds with a particular type of frame damage.
Sagging/Twisted Frame
If your frame is sagging or warped, it’s likely to leave gaps in between the different body panels. If ignored, a sagging or twisted frame can cause your tires and suspension components to wear faster.
Mashed Frame
A damaged frame is most common after a collision, where the frame itself crumples in on itself. Look for distortions or wrinkles in the body panels, like the hood, fenders, or side rails.
Sway Damage
Sway damage typically occurs when a vehicle gets hit in a corner. The problem with sway damage is that your car won’t be able to drive in a straight line, meaning it’s a hazard to yourself and those around you.
Additionally, if you continue to drive a car with sway damage, there’s a significant chance it wreaks havoc on the transmission.
Car Frame Damage Repair Costs
The truth of the matter is that there is no set range for frame damage repair costs. It all depends on the extent of the damage.
Take a damaged rear quarter panel, for instance. If it’s as simple as removing the dent, repairs may run between $500-$1,000.
However, if the harm is substantial, repairing it may require that entire sections be replaced, which means cutting off the old and welding on the new. Then, industrial machines are used to stretch your car back to its original shape.
Sound expensive yet? Depending on the extent of the issues, frame damage repair costs can run as high as $10,0000. Because of this, insurance companies usually total out the vehicle rather than going through the effort of fixing it.
What Does Frame Damage Mean To You?
While you may be able to operate a car with frame damage, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
If it’s something minor, like a dented rear quarter panel, then sure, you should be fine. But if the structural integrity of your car has been compromised, driving it could be exceedingly dangerous.
If your frame has already suffered damage, its ability to keep you safe in the event of a collision is questionable at best.
