Frame damage (also known as structural damage) is when your vehicle’s structural integrity is compromised. Here’s how you can tell if your car has it. If you are scouring the web for information about car frame damage, then you have clearly had a rough week. The frame of your vehicle is basically its foundation, its structural support. If it is damaged, it may be unsafe to continue driving.
What is frame damage on a car? It usually refers to when a structural component on the frame of a vehicle has been compromised. Though, it doesn’t always suggest a significant amount of damage. It may just be that there’s a dent or scratch in a vital area that makes it unsafe to drive.
Thankfully, in this handy guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about frame damage. We’ll first examine the most common type of frame – unibody. Then, we’ll look at what determines if your vehicle has frame damage, and how much you can expect to spend to resolve it.
A Closer Look At A Unibody Frame
What is a unibody frame? It basically means that the body of the vehicle, its floor plan, and its chassis all form a single structure. This type of frame not only reduces weight, which enhances fuel economy, but it provides better handling and improves the ride quality as well. For these reasons, a unibody frame is the most common construction method on most passenger vehicles.
The other type of frame design is known as a body-on-frame (or ladder frame). This type used to be the norm, but now it’s only found in trucks and large SUVs due to the superior strength and resistance it offers. To help identify issues, automotive engineers and mechanics break unibody frames into smaller components. Let’s explore each of these now!
Unirail
These are two symmetrical beams on both the front and rear of the car. Because of their strength, they serve as a foundation for other frame components.
Core/Radiator Support
A core support (also known as a radiator support), is a metal frame that surrounds the radiator, securing it in place. Most of the time, this component is bolted on, meaning if it suffers damage, it can easily be replaced.
Strut Tower/Apron Assembly
Cars have front aprons and rear aprons, which are basically frames that hold the struts in place. Part of the apron assembly is the strut tower, which helps prevent chassis flex while cornering.
Floor Pan
The floor pan is basically a metal sheet that’s welded to several cross members, forming the floor of the car. There are several holes and grooves built into it to allow for drivetrain components and electrical wiring.
Firewall
The firewall is the frame component that separates the engine bay from the passenger cabin. It’s usually comprised of a sheet of pressed 14- to 18-gauge steel that is clad with a layer of sound-deadening materials.
A/B/C Pillars
These are the vertical supports of a car. The letter “A” refers to the pillar closes to the front, “B” is in the middle, and “C” is in the rear. Some vehicles, like large SUVs or minivans, also have a “D” pillar.
Quarter Panel
A quarter panel is the sheet metal that forms the passenger- and driver-side rear panels. They consist of the area around the rear tires, as well as where the gas cap is. While they’re usually made of metal, in some vehicles, they’re made of carbon fiber or fiberglass to help reduce weight.
Rocker Panel
A rocker panel makes up the area between the front and rear tires, below the doors. Their purpose is to support the doors, ensuring they remain aligned when closed.
Rear Support
The rear support encompasses the rear section of the frame, including the floorboards, back bumper support, and a pair of unirails. Now that you have a better idea of what your frame encompasses. Let’s look at how to check for frame damage.
How To Tell If Your Car Has Frame Damage
It doesn’t take too much for a car to end up with frame damage. Here are a few symptoms to watch out for:
- Visibly bent or damaged
- Alignment is off
- Wheels don’t track correctly
- Panels don’t line-up
- Uneven tire wear
- Unusual sounds
- Uneven suspension wear
Each of the above symptoms typically corresponds with a specific type of frame damage.
Sagging/Twisted Frame
If your frame is sagging or twisted, it’s likely to leave gaps in between the different body panels. If ignored, a sagging or twisted frame can cause your tires and suspension components to wear faster.
Mashed Frame
A mashed fame is most common after a collision, where the frame itself crumples in on itself. Look for distortions, or wrinkles in the body panels, like the hood, fenders, or side rails.
Sway Damage
Sway damage typically occurs when a vehicle gets hit in a corner. The problem with sway damage is that your car won’t be able to drive in a straight line, meaning it’s a hazard to yourself and those around you. Additionally, if you continue to drive a car with sway damage, there’s a good chance it wreaks havoc on the transmission.
Car Frame Damage Repair Costs
The truth of the matter is that there is no set range for frame damage repair costs. It all depends on the severity of the damage. Take a dented rear quarter panel, for instance. If it’s as simple as removing the dent, repairs may run between $500-$1,000.
However, if the damage is severe, repairing it may require that entire sections be replaced, which means cutting off the old, and welding on the new. Then, industrial machines are used to stretch your car back to its original shape.
Sound expensive yet? Depending on the extent of the issues, frame damage repair costs can run as high as $10,0000. Because of this, insurance companies usually total out the vehicle rather than going through the effort of fixing it.
What Does Frame Damage Mean To You?
While you may be able to drive a car with frame damage, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. If it’s something small, like a dented rear quarter panel, then sure, you should be fine. But if the structural integrity of your car has been compromised, driving it could be extremely dangerous. If your frame has already suffered damage, its ability to keep you safe in the event of a collision is questionable at best.
