Everything You Need To Know About Frame & Chassis Repair
Frame and chassis define the shape of a car and give it structural integrity. The two are used interchangeably (chassis means “frame”) but there are some differences depending on the car make and model, such as how the two are joined.
The frame covers the top and the sides of the car. The chassis is the ladder-shaped frame on the underside. It houses all the critical components that control the car’s movement and direction by transferring power from the engine to the wheels. If the frame or the chassis are damaged or bent out of shape, the car will not move or steer smoothly. In this blog post by Diamond Auto Body, we will discuss absolutely everything you need to know about frame and chassis repair/stabilization & straightening. If you are located in Brooklyn, NY and are in need of a auto body shop, then call us!
Frame and Chassis Parts
The frame consists of:
- roof
- floor
- doors
- pillars between the windows
The chassis contains parts such as:
- driveshaft
- suspension
- transmission
- differential
- joints and axles
In a collision, the frame and the chassis bend and twist to disperse the collision impact, protecting the passengers and the critical components. A car can still keep moving even after a collision but the frame and the chassis should be looked at to make sure the car won’t give up at the most inconvenient moment.
Keeping the car well maintained minimizes the frame and chassis collision damage, especially when it comes to repeated low-speed collisions. Pay attention to things such as rust or the headliner falling off and you’ll minimize collision repair costs.
Auto Body Shop Brooklyn — Frame Repair
Frame repair starts by listening to customer’s complaints and examining the contours of the car from all sides to find the cause of problems. The manufacturer designs the frame to tight specifications but also gives it the ability to collapse under stresses that include anything from extreme heat and cold changes to oversized loads and chemical exposure. A stressed-out car will lose performance and make each drive into a hassle until the collision does it in.
Roof Repair
A car roof is designed to withstand collisions with incredible forces while protecting the occupants. What it isn’t designed to withstand is the exposure to the elements coupled with one or more low-speed collisions. Extreme heat and cold cause the roof to slightly expand and shrink, weakening the metal. The roof looks fine but when the collision finally happens it starts to buckle.
Frame repair on the car roof includes measuring the performance of the roof segments against the manufacturer’s specifications. If they’re performing poorly, the interior roof elements are removed before the roof panel is removed and repaired or replaced. When placed back, the roof elements are tightly fitted into place.
When the roof metal starts to expand and shrink, the interior decorative elements will no longer have a tight fit and might keep falling off. If you notice the headliner or the wiring is out of place, check the roof for signs of weakness.
Floor Repair
Floors are most often weakened by water damage and rust that eats into the metal. Even a dime-sized hole in the carpeting is enough to let liquids pool into the floor and weaken it. Pay attention to the carpeting for early signs of floor damage. Any bumps or depressions in the floor might be a sign you’ve been in a collision without even noticing it.
Door Repair
Doors isolate the car interior from the outside environment. If the doors are damaged or bent, the air will rush in when the car is moving. You or your passengers will hear the noise or feel the stream of air as the car accelerates. Windows not closing properly is another clue that the doors are damaged.
Car Pillar Repair
Pillars connect the sides with the floor and the roof. There are up to four pillar types on a car:
- A pillar that runs above the front door and along the front windshield
- B pillar that separates the front and the back door
- C pillar that separates the back door from the rear of the car
- D pillar that runs along the rear windshield
A damaged or bent car pillar will over time damage and bend the car parts it’s meant to hold in place. If your front car door isn’t closing as smoothly as it used to, A or B pillars might need checking. The trunk or the back door not closing as they should might indicate damaged C or D pillars. Even if you can’t see any damage, run your hand along the pillars from time to time and you’ll feel if there’s an unseen bend.
Chassis Stabilization and Chassis Straightening
Chassis and the parts it houses suffer a lot of damage that goes unseen. You can detect that damage by the poor performance of the car. Where BMWs are concerned, their electrical components might get damaged, leading to poor or unusable chassis stabilization.
BMW cars have a feature called chassis stabilization. It uses sensors spread across the chassis to adjust the car’s performance on the fly. If the sensors detect a problem or malfunction, the feature won’t work as expected and the ABS, the suspension, or the transmission might fail.
The fix for BMW chassis stabilization problems is to access the onboard computer and read its diagnostics. Each malfunctioning sensor will report to the onboard computer with an error code. Reading the error codes will show the cause of the problem.
A chassis is designed to be rigid and does not give easily. When it does, the chassis parts start behaving erratically. The only fix is using special hydraulics to straighten the chassis. We attach the chains to certain points on the chassis and let the hydraulics pull the chains to straighten the chassis.
Conclusion
When in perfect order, the frame and the chassis make the car move and steer smoothly. Even when stationary, being inside it is a delight because such a car is soundproof. If you notice your car is no longer moving or steering smoothly or being inside it is no longer a delight, it’s time for action.
Call Diamond Auto Body Brooklyn at 718-629-6400, Monday–Friday, 8AM–5PM with all your frame and chassis repair questions.