6 Signs of Car Frame Damage You Shouldn’t Ignore
A car’s frame is the fundamental component upon which the rest of the vehicle is built. Due to the making of sturdy materials, this part rarely has trouble unless your car is involved in a collision or accident. However, if the car frame is damaged or bent, this can impact your car’s performance or your safety. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about car frame damage such as symptoms and solutions.
The Importance Of The Car Frame in A Car
The frame is the part that supports all other parts and components of a vehicle. At the same time, it is the part that connects all other parts to form the overall shape of a car and must always ensure firmness, stability, and safety when the car is in operation.
A vehicle’s frame comprises two main rails that run the length of the vehicle and are joined at different points by many cross-members. Even though each make and model of car has a slightly different frame design than the next, they all have the same function.
All other components that make up a car such as the engine, transmission system, braking system, etc. are attached to this frame system. Therefore, if the car frame does not ensure structural strength, it cannot ensure safety.
The frame is also painstakingly designed with specific strut angles and densities in mind. This affects characteristics such as steering rake, front-end geometry, and driveline inclination. The slightest difference in these angles can lead to a host of drivability-related problems.
What Is Frame Damage On A Car?
To look out for the symptoms of a damaged car frame and how to fix it, so first of what is the damaged frame? Frame damage on a car refers to structural damage to the vehicle’s frame or unibody. Modern cars often have a unibody construction, where the frame and body are integrated into a single unit. Typically, there are 5 types of frame damage you may encounter while driving and using your vehicle:
- Twisted frames
- Sag frames
- Side sway
- Mash frames
- Diamond
Sometimes, a damaged frame simply refers to the deformation and misalignment of the structure of a vehicle’s original frame design which serves as a support to stabilize the car whether parked or in motion, the foundation of a car frame is normally made up of steel or aluminum and when damaged or bent can cause various issues like difficulty steering or uneven tire wear…
So what are the causes of the frame damage? The reason is mostly due to outside forces such as accidents or collisions. When it comes to car accidents, one of the most common outcomes or results from the incident is a damaged or bent car frame. Hitting curbs, potholes, and rollovers can also cause frame damage.
Overloading or carrying excessive weight in a car can also cause the frame to bend or twist. This happens to vehicles that are not designed for heavy loads. Overloading can damage the suspension system and other parts of your car. In addition to outside elements, rust and corrosion from the inside can make your car frame more susceptible to damage since rust can weaken the car frame.
6 Signs Of Car Frame Damage On Your Car
As we know, the car frame is the backbone of any vehicle, and if there is any damage to it, it can lead to various safety hazards while driving. So it’s vital to identify the symptoms when the frame is damaged early enough to prevent further damage. With that said, here are some signs to look out for:
1. Non-uniform bends in the car frame
The front of a vehicle can become misaligned or warped for several reasons in a frontal collision. This area is designed to absorb impact, so it is the most susceptible part of the frame to warping. Severe misalignment, often visible to the naked eye in small parts, can be the cause of larger damage later.
Additionally, frame damage should be suspected If a bend in one frame rail differs from the bend in the rail on the opposite side of the vehicle. The majority of the bends in the frame rails are very uniform in appearance and identical from one side of the vehicle to the other.
2. Misaligned wheels
One of the most noticeable, physical symptoms of a damaged car frame is when the wheels become misaligned. This can happen mostly due to a bent suspension system and other parts of the car frame like the longitudinal rails, B to C pillars, and roof rail… that connect the wheels to the frame so when the wheels are not aligned correctly, it will increase the risk of more hazardous accidents.
3. Uneven tire wear
Another common symptom of car frame damage is irregular tire wear. There are several reasons why tires may wear down frequently. Nonetheless, the frame damage is likely the cause. When the car frame is damaged or bent, it can cause the wheels to tilt or lean which can lead to one or more tires wearing down faster than the others so the consequences are tire blowouts or car accidents.
When the tires are damaged to the extent that they change their geometry, they frequently track unevenly on the road. Extremely strange tread wear is always the result of this problem.
4. Car pulling to one side
If you feel that your car pulls one side while driving, it could be a sign of car frame damage. When the frame is damaged, it will affect the alignment of the wheels causing the car to title one side.
This misalignment throws off the car’s geometry, affecting the angles at which the wheels sit.
As a result, the wheels may no longer point straight ahead, causing the car to pull towards the side with the misaligned wheel which can make driving more difficult and dangerous, especially driving at high speeds. This pulling sensation can be subtle or pronounced, depending on the severity of the frame damage.
5. Unusual noise while driving
If you notice any unusual noise such as grinding, squeaking, or rattling noise, it can be a sign of a damaged car frame because your tires or wheels are rubbing somewhere. The simplest case could be a leak at the connection between the exhaust system and the engine or a loose bolt. Therefore, the owner can fix this problem by checking and tightening the bolts. In case of a cracked exhaust tip, the car should be checked immediately.
6. Abnormally connected components
The components of a car’s frame are held together using rivets, bolts, or welding. If you look under the frame and detect a crack or a link that is not properly aligned or is at an angle opposite the same axle, this could be a major problem that needs to be addressed.
Abnormally positioned or misaligned struts are a sign of significant frame damage that has altered the location of the vehicle’s suspension mounting points.
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Car Frame Repair: How To Fix?
A question is raised can a damaged car frame be fixed? The answer “yes” or “no ” will depend on the degree of your car frame damage. However, the first option and our recommendation is to take your car to a professional auto body shop for inspection where they will assess the extent of the damage and determine the best solution for you. Why we suggest that solution because fixing a damaged car frame is a complex process and requires expertise and technical knowledge.
However, if you don’t choose the first option, you can get the damaged frame fixed by yourself If the damage is not too severe. You can use specialized equipment like a frame straightening machine but this requires a huge investment in buying the machine because it’s super expensive unless you already have this tool or know how to get access to the machine for free.
There are some steps you can refer to if you want to repair the car frame damage by yourself:
- Clean up the workspace
- Place your vehicle on the frame machine
- Purchase new parts If necessary
- Cut the new part to the size
- Weld the new part in place
- Straighten the frame
- Use a tower attachment to straighten the frame.
- Fix any damaged brackets
- Prime and paint the frame.
By following these steps you can fix the damaged frame and get your car back on the road though this process is quite complex.
Hopefully, the information will be useful for you!
