The frame of your automobile is basically the structure that makes up the structural parts of your vehicle, or the foundation that supports all of the mechanical and cosmetic parts of the car. Structural damage to a car typically only occurs after a car accident. Unfortunately, it is often costly to repair because all of the other parts of the car have to be stripped away in order to fix the damage. If you were involved in an automobile accident, you may be wondering if you have frame damage. Here are a few of the most common signs of frame damage following a car accident.
Noticeable Bending to the Frame
While the frame of your automobile is typically covered by various body panel pieces, most people can still notice potential bending to the frame. If you were involved in a serious accident and you notice creases, ridges, waves, lumps or deep dents to your car, the frame of the vehicle was likely affected. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to remove the panels from your car and look directly at the frame, so eyeballing your car alone is not enough to find frame damage.
Improper Car Alignment
Another sign of frame damage to an automobile is improper car alignment. When you are driving, your car should drive in a straight line. If the alignment is off, your vehicle will pull to the right or the left. Your tires and struts may also wear unevenly. If your car is not properly aligned after an accident, it may be because your vehicle suffered frame damage which threw the alignment off.
Strange Sounds While Driving
One of the lesser-known signs of frame damage is strange or unusual noises while you are driving. If the frame of your car is bent or damaged, it may be rubbing on or hitting parts of the car it shouldn’t. As such, you may hear anything from squealing or screeching to grinding to creaking. If your car has been in an accident and you hear anything unusual while driving it, you should get it checked out.
Your Doors or Windows Not Shutting As They Should
The final sign of frame damage is your car doors or windows not opening or shutting like they should. Think about the foundation of your home. When the foundation is damaged, your homes’ doors or windows may not open or shut properly. The same is true with your car. If the doors or windows won’t budge, or you notice they seem to be a lot harder to open or close, you could have frame damage.
If you have, or suspect you have, frame damage to your automobile, you need an autobody repair shop who has experience fixing this type of damage. Here at Certified Collision Center, with locations in Tracey, Manteca, Stockton, Galt, South Sacramento, Oakdale, Modesto and Lodi, our trained autobody repair technicians can help you with diagnosing and repairing frame damage. Reach out to our office today to schedule an appointment.