Assessing Collision Damage: What Collision Repair Technicians Look For
Collision repair technicians must diligently inspect vehicles following a wide variety of potential accidents that can cause a range of repair needs. The technicians are directly responsible for determining what has been damaged and what repairs are needed to restore the vehicle to a drivable state. But how exactly can collision technicians make such determinations? For aspiring collision repair technicians, understanding how professionals in the field assess collision damage is important so they can better understand vehicle construction and what it takes to repair different types of vehicles. Read on to learn some of the specifics of professional collision repair.
Door Panels
A vehicle’s door panels can take a beating in side collisions. Collision repair technicians must carefully examine a post-collision door panel to see if a new panel needs to be installed. To determine whether a new door panel is needed, technicians examine the door gaps to check for misalignment and unevenness. A straight gap with an even width from top to bottom means that your door is still in line and can open and close effectively. And if there isn’t severe denting, the panel can be repaired without having to install a new one. However, misalignment is a serious red flag, and any unevenness puts the function of the door panel in jeopardy, which means a new panel will need to be installed.
Fenders and Bumpers
Usually the first points of contact, a vehicle’s fender and bumper are designed to absorb most of the impact in a collision to protect you and your passengers. However, their design and placement mean the fender and bumper are highly susceptible to damage caused by collisions. Because the fender and bumper generally are made of lightweight material, collision repair technicians check for scratches or crack following a collision. Minor damage can easily be fixed, but major cracks or denting cause the need for fender or bumper replacement, which even an amateur collision technician can handily complete.
Windshields
Windshield cracks and chips can occur in the event of a collision. The crash impact can cause some minor damage, and it’s important for collision repair technicians to identify this damage so steps can be taken to prevent the crack from growing and causing the driver to return to the service center for a windshield repair or replacement. While windshield cracks initially may appear small, and maybe even are hidden, over time they can expand and eventually span the width of your windshield. This is why collision repair technicians must carefully inspect both the front and rear windshields for cracks. A professional checks for windshield damage regardless of whether any cracks or chips already have been documented.
Collision repair technicians are diligent and have a great eye for finding irregularities in post-collision cars. A thorough front-to-back and top-to-bottom examination of a damaged car is required to provide the best care possible when making any repairs.
If you’re interested in learning more about the world of collision repair technology, you can download our free eBook Panels, Paints, and Graphics: The Future of Collision Repair.
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