| Most of us never would want to see the inside | | | | changed by modern technologies. Overhead |
| of an auto body repair shop. At the most we | | | | vacuum lines are connected to the grinders |
| can often smell the solvents being emitted by | | | | and sanders to pull dust and dirt away from |
| automotive body vehicle repair shop as we | | | | this part of the shop. Modern body shops can |
| drive by and wonder how those people can make | | | | remain very clean and dust free- indeed |
| it through a work day never being precise and | | | | modern electronics , and even the most modern |
| accurate in both matching the color of car | | | | hi tech electronics of hybrid vehicles demand |
| panels and repairing auto, truck and S.U.V | | | | this. |
| bodies after vehicle collisions. | | | | |
| | | | With the entire metal straight, it's on to |
| It is only by accident - car accidents that | | | | the paint preparation area, commonly referred |
| most of us end up inside the premises of our | | | | to as "paint prep". Quality shops will use |
| local, dealer or a chain auto body shop. | | | | dust extraction systems to remove the dust |
| | | | when sanding and spraying the paint primers. |
| Most shops now bear little relation to the | | | | Infrared lighting systems may be used to cure |
| establishments you may remember as a child - | | | | primer paint quickly and properly. These |
| dark and dusty surrounded by both piles of | | | | infrared lights can shorten the cure time |
| used and new car parts as well as a mean | | | | from 24 hours remarkably to as little as 20 |
| guard dog in the yard. There may be a few of | | | | minutes. All of these procedures both help |
| those still around but they are a dying | | | | you to get a higher quality assured job and |
| breed. Repairing cars now, especially with | | | | get you back on the road in a minimal time |
| the electronics in today's vehicles, requires | | | | span. |
| both skill, education and training, | | | | |
| sophisticated tools and an ultra clean, | | | | Painting the final colors and clear coats is |
| modern shop. | | | | done in a paint booth. There are many types |
| | | | and brands of paint booths, however it is |
| Modern body shops now seem to be uniformly | | | | generally accepted the best are the |
| clean, well laid out and well lit. As well | | | | "downdraft" units where fresh filtered air |
| many body shops are laid out in several | | | | enters the top of the booth and any |
| distinct separate staging areas. Vehicles are | | | | underspray is pulled downward and out through |
| estimated in one area, body work done in | | | | grates in the floor. The downdraft procedure |
| another, electronic repairs in yet another | | | | of paint booths can produce the best and most |
| area, painted in a very separate area, and | | | | consistent of paint finishes. In addition a |
| finally detailed and presented to the | | | | well trained operator can make a great |
| customer in a display area. | | | | difference in final paint and appearance |
| | | | quality and consistency. A dust free paint |
| If the vehicle has major damage, then it is | | | | booth of any design is better than a dirty |
| moved to a disassembly area and onto a frame | | | | and dusty paint booth of the highest end. |
| machine. Unibody construction is utilized by | | | | Before spending your money or committing |
| most autos today. Unibody is a an automotive | | | | yourself to the job or repairs it is always |
| and mechanical body term which describes how | | | | best to ask to examine several examples of |
| sheet metal is stamped, formed and welded | | | | the shops work on several vehicles. In |
| together to form the structural portion of | | | | addition ask to see finished examples of |
| the car or truck body. | | | | several different body types - cars, trucks, |
| | | | vans and SUVs. Look for smooth finishes with |
| The purpose of the "frame machine" is not to | | | | minimal dust specs and colors that match from |
| straighten the car frame now - rather it is | | | | panel to panel. These are the signs of a |
| to straighten the unibody construction of the | | | | quality paint job done by a skilled and |
| vehicle. | | | | professional painter. |
| | | | |
| Measuring the vehicle body for correct | | | | It goes without saying that a professional |
| unibody alignment is more than critical. As | | | | paint shop will be proud of their faculties- |
| little as one millimeter error is all that is | | | | the layout, equipment, training of their |
| allowed by most car, truck and S.U.V. | | | | staff - and most of all their people. |
| manufacturers. Laser measuring systems are | | | | |
| used by many body shops along with the frame | | | | Such a shop should have no trouble, barring |
| machine to ensure that everything is | | | | practical logistics, of allowing you a tour |
| straightened accurately to the decimal point. | | | | of their facilities. Indeed after all of |
| | | | their careful efforts they should be most |
| With the unibody of the vehicle straight, the | | | | proud to give you a tour and point out their |
| car, truck or S.U.V. moves to the metal work | | | | strong points and capabilities as well as |
| area where new sheet metal is mounted and | | | | examples of their finished product. |
| damages area straightened. This work is still | | | | |
| done by skilled technicians and tradesmen | | | | After all it's your vehicle that is being |
| using hammers and dollies, but even the work | | | | repaired - whether it is your new S.U.V, car, |
| done by body shop technicians has been | | | | truck, van or bus. |