When your vehicle’s frame is damaged, its structural support is compromised, making it unsafe to drive. Frame damage is usually influenced by external situations like a collision or so. In this post, we help shed light on the cost of repairing a vehicle’s frame, specifically a Jeep.
How Much Does Auto Frame Repair Cost?
There’s really no one answer to this question. Whether we’re talking about the cost of repairing the frame of a Jeep or the frame of any other vehicle, the answer will always vary based on the extent of damage that’s done to the frame.
It’s not just the frame, by the way. The cost of repairing any sort of damage tends to vary, be it unibody damage or undercarriage damage, be it a door frame or a strut frame.
It’s also worth noting that while some frame damage problems can be fixed, others can’t, which entails purchasing a completely new car frame. Once again, it all boils down to the extent of the damage.
Okay, but what’s the price range you should expect to pay? If we’re talking about trivial types of damage like dents in the quarter panels and other things of that type, expect to pay somewhere between $600 and $1,000.
Keep in mind that this is strictly for the frame repair, though, as you’ll probably need to pay extra for the paintwork.
If we’re about serious frame damage? You can expect to pay around $10,000. The cost may or may not include the paintwork cost.
These estimates don’t only apply to Jeep vehicles. They apply to pretty much any commercial vehicle, from sedans and coupes to SUVs and crossovers to trucks and pickups.
Please keep in mind that there are all averages and estimates. If you want an exact quote, it’s highly recommended that you ask the nearest automotive frame shop.
You should be specific to your question. Point out what type of damage repair you’re looking to apply on your so that you get an exact price. It could be anything from quarter panel repairs or frame straightening to rusted frame repairs or subframe repairs.
Additionally, you should ask the mechanics at the repair shop about their definition of damage and repair so that when it’s all said and done, you receive your car free of any frame issues.
We strongly recommend that you ask several car frame repair shops so that you can compare their prices and settle on the price that meets your budget.
Why Do Frame Repairs Cost So Much?
It all has to do with safety. Like we already mentioned, any damage to the vehicle’s frame can result in structural imbalance, which, for example, can lead the car to not drive straight, and a vehicle that doesn’t drive straight, quite simply, is an unsafe vehicle.
To repair serious frame damage, mechanics usually have to cut off all of the damaged parts and replace them with new parts. After that, specialized machines are utilized to get the car back to its proper shape via stretching techniques and so forth. So we’re not just talking about materials here, we’re talking about intensive workmanship as well.
How to Check for Frame Damage?
We don’t recommend inspecting your vehicle for damage by yourself. You should have one of the mechanics at your local auto frame ship take a look at it. They’re usually adept at spotting signs of damage. Some of the most common signs of frame damage include the following.
Mashed Frames
Mashed frames are usually a result of collisions, be it a rear-end or head-on collision. This is a very obvious sign of damage considering that the damaged area appears crumpled.
Twisted Frames
Twisting and sagging are clear indicators of a damaged vehicle frame. They might seem trivial, but they can be extremely dangerous if unattended because they’ll eat at your tires and coils.
Not sure whether or not your frame is twisted/sagging? Well, if your car is unstable when you’re driving at higher speeds, it’s highly likely that the frame is sagging or twisted.
Sway Damage
While mashed frames tend to occur due to rear-end or a head-on collision, sway damage tends to happen due to corner collisions. This sort of damage results in your car being misaligned. To be more specific, it’ll be leaning towards one side more than the other.
Can You Drive a Frame Damaged Car?
It all depends on the extent of frame damage. If the vehicle can maintain a straight line as you’re driving it with no sorts of misalignments, chances are you can drive it. Just keep in mind that the integrity of your vehicle’s structure isn’t at its optimal condition, meaning that any sort of collision can be amplified.
If the frame damage is minor and everything is kept intact, you don’t have to worry much about your vehicle being unsafe. Just make sure that your crumple zones are fine. By minor damage, we mean trivial things like rear quarter panel dents.
On the other hand, if the damage is serious, don’t take any chances, please, especially if your crumple zones are actually crimpled. Further, if you have alignment issues or a bent car frame, you just can’t go for a drive with that car. A mechanic has to take a look at it and get it repaired before you even attempt to sit inside of it.
Final Thoughts
We feel the need to repeat ourselves by saying that the prices mentioned in this article are just estimates. You have to get your Jeep checked by a mechanic if you want precise pricing. Also, the information shared in this article applies to virtually all commercial vehicles, not just Jeeps.