Unibody Repair
Even non-severe accidents can cause catastrophic damage to the frame of your vehicle. In some cases, the car may be totaled, but more often than not the frame can be fixed. It takes the care of an expert technician to know the difference, and to know what repairs are needed. Read on to discover everything you need to know about unibody damage and repair.
What Is a Unibody Vehicle?
If you’ve been in an accident, you might be wondering what work needs and how much you can expect to pay. Often, the biggest factor will depend if you have a unibody vehicle or a subframe vehicle.
Older cars are supported by a system of parts known as the subframe. However, in the early 2000s, it became an industry standard for cars to have unibodies.
The main difference is that subframes are composed of multiple parts that can be removed during repairs. Unibodies, on the other hand, combine the chassis and the body of the car together.
Unibody vehicles are designed with a rigid frame around the main carriage which distributes impact toward the crumple zones of the car. Studies have shown that this makes unibody vehicles more effective at protecting passengers during high-speed collisions.
While unibody frames are important for keeping people safe, their complex design means they often require more extensive repairs. Even minor damage to the frame can cause stress on other parts of the vehicle and lead to bigger issues down the line. If you have issues with your unibody frame, you are going to want to fix it as soon as possible.
How Is Unibody Damage Repaired?
No two damaged vehicles are the same. A technician needs to assess the damage in order to develop an individualized plan to repair it.
This is why the price range can vary widely, depending on the location of the damage, material of the frame, and the labor required. You can expect to pay between $500-$1000, or even more on newer cars.
Typically, the most challenging part of the repair process is straightening out bent or twisted frames. Special machinery is used to bend the frame back into place and measure its placement. This requires exact precision to return to its original shape, or else it may not drive correctly or effectively allocate impact.
Unibody Repair Services in Frederick, MD
Don’t trust just anyone with the crucial task of repairing your unibody frame. Trust the local experts at Stup’s Auto Center!
We have over 65 years of experience repairing and servicing vehicles in Frederick, Maryland, and the nearby areas. Whether you’ve been in a small fender bender or a high-speed collision, our dependable technicians can repair the unibody frame and get you back on the road.