Process Of Fixing A Fender Bender At A Shop
If your arm gets bruised, it will eventually heal. But if something scratches your car, the dents and scratches will go nowhere. Plastic and metal auto bodies are highly pliable, so learning how to fix a fender bender can help restore it after a collision. You can fix some fender benders yourself by using tools around the house. Online mechanics give a lot of insights on how to fix a fender bender, but which one really works?
Whenever a vehicle gets involved in an accident, the integrity of its metal sheet might be altered. However, Manuel’s Body Shop, a collision repair shop in Culver City will apply techniques and tools to bring your vehicle back to its original shape and color.
Here are steps to fix a fender bender after a collision.
Assess the Dent
Not all collisions and dents are the same, which is why every dent repair tools and techniques are unique. Smaller dents can be filled in and popped out using less intensive techniques and tools. However, larger ones, especially those that are at least a few inches wide and long, might need sophisticated tools. Start by measuring the depth and length of the dent before choosing the tools to use. Dollies and body hammers are some of the common tools used for virtually any dent removal.
However, these tools are available in different weights, shapes, and sizes, so be sure to choose a dolly or hammer that matches the curvature and depth of the dent. Select the dolly whose shape resembles the shape of the dented area and a modest-sized hammer that can get the job done.
Locate the Front and Back of the Dent
It is crucial to locate both sides of the dent before you start hammering out the damage. Fenders and door panels might need to be removed to get to the back of the damaged metal sheet. Stabilize the dents made inside the damaged surface by hammering the sheet metal against the dolly from the outside. With the hammer body positioned on the inside of the dented surface, straighten the metal sheet using the hammer dolly.
Requirements For Repairing A Fender Bender
A Hammer
Techicians start by hammering the dented surface from the deepest point to the center-most part of the dent. However, do this with caution because most of today’s metal sheets are weaker and thinner than they used to be. A repair technician might also use a hammer to stretch the metal sheet further with a heavy blow. Use the least force possible to bring the metal sheet closer to its initial look. It could mean using gentle and short taps to bring all dents and scratches back in line.
A Suction Cup
A suction cup can be a useful tool on less complex creases or dents such as shallow concave dents. You might have every tool you need, depending on the severity of the fender bender. Use a cellphone windshield mount on smaller dents and a flat sink plunger on larger dents. Start by cleaning the damaged surface, then squish the suction cup onto it. Use dent puller to straighten the metal sheet so that the dent can pop out.
Hot Water
Removing a dent on a pliable plastic sheet can be easier. Pour hot water over the dented surface to soften the plastic sheet. Then push out the dent from behind the bumper. While this technique may be effective even on large dents, it can’t bring the dented surface back to its original shape because the plastic sheet will already have been deformed. Fender Bender technicians often use a heating tool as an alternative to hot water.
Compressed Air
A fender bender an also be fixed using either cold or hot air. Auto repair technicians use a heat gun or blower to heat the damaged surface. Warm air will expand the plastic sheet, while cold air will shrink it, making it easier to pull out the dent. Compressed air and hairdryer work well on shallow dents in non-metal body panels, but it may not be effective on metal panels. This technique is somewhat ineffective because changes in weather can cause dents to reappear.
Hot Glue
Auto body shops can also use hot glue to stick wooden dowels to a damaged service. Wooden dowels allow collision repair technicians to pull on different parts of a dented plastic or metal panel. However, this technique often calls for patience, as you have to wait for the glue to set. Pull the dented area gently at an angle and then remove the dowel. Then use the hair dryer to soften the glue to make it easier to remove the dowel. It can be a moderately effective method, depending on the patience of the puller and the severity of the damage.
Paint and Body Filler
Auto technique used by auto body shops is body filler to build up the dented surface back to its original contour. However, a clean working area and several supplies, including paint, cutting compound polish, wet-dry sandpaper, and body filler, might be needed. Body filling and repainting call for care and patience because the success of each step depends on the previous one. Body filling and repainting is the most effective way to fix a fender bender. Using the suction cup to pull dents may not always bring the dented surface back to its original shape. For quality refinishing and fender bender repair, consult a local auto repair Culver City.
Like any auto repair job, practice always makes perfect. With these tips and a dose of diligence, fixing a fender bender should be a straightforward process. Simple tools such as a dolly can be used to hammer out a fender bender and bring your vehicle back to its original shape. However, for a complicated dent, consider taking your vehicle to a fender bender repair technician.
Here at Manuel’s Body Shop, Collision repair in Culver City, we have a lot of valuable experience when it comes to fender benders. Technicians can help repair your dented vehicle at an affordable cost. If your vehicle got dented, get in touch with an auto repair technician in Culver City for professional repair. We give free estimates!
