Structural Damage and a Frame Machine: Everything You Need to Know

One of the biggest misconceptions pertaining to autobody repair is that structural damage to the frame of your car cannot be repaired. While it can be costly to repair structural damage to your car, it can be fixed. An auto body frame machine plays a key role in helping to straighten out the structure or framework of your car. Read on to learn more about what an auto body frame machine is and how it works to fix structural damage that is caused by car accidents. 

What Is an Auto Body Frame Machine? 

An auto body frame machine is a piece of equipment that is used to repair damage to the inner frame and structure of your vehicle after a car accident. This helps to restore your car to its original shape when the force of an accident distorts the framework. It is estimated that approximately half of all accidents cause damage to the inner frame or structure of a car, meaning that half of all cars involved in accidents benefit from an auto body frame machine. 

How Does an Auto Body Frame Machine Work? 

A vehicle that is involved in an accident is placed on the platform of an auto body frame machine and secured firmly into place. It is imperative that the car not be able to move in any direction. Chains are then attached to the framework of the car where the damage is present. The auto body frame machine utilizes hydraulics to increase the tension on the chains slowly but steadily. This creates tension that pulls on the section of the inner frame or structure that has been damaged, pulling the frame back to its correct shape. Auto body frame machines utilize technology to measure the frame of the car as it is being adjusted, so the machine automatically stops when the measurements meet the manufacturer’s specifications for your car. 

Do All Cars Involved In An Accident Get Placed On a Frame Machine? 

Many cars that are involved in an accident do get placed on a frame machine. The frame machine can help to repair the damage, but it can also help to measure the body of your car, verifying whether any frame damage or structural damage has occurred. It can be hard for the human eye to visually see minor frame damage, so utilizing a machine helps an auto body repair shop determine without a doubt whether the damage is present or not. 

If you have been involved in a car accident, you should always bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop. Structural damage may be hidden behind even minor dings and dents, and you may have no idea. Here at Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair Shop with locations in Tracy, Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, Lodi, South Sacramento, Oakdale, and Galt, our team can thoroughly assess the condition of your vehicle after an accident and get to work getting it back to its pre-accident state. Call us today to schedule an appointment to have your car inspected by our professionals. 

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