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Do mechanics typically replace large parts of the frame? I thought that if it was damaged, the car's scrapped anyways.
by TheAdamAndChe 6y ago
Do mechanics typically replace large parts of the frame? I thought that if it was damaged, the car's scrapped anyways.
- bluedino 6y agoIf say, the front is damaged, a front end from a donor car can be welded on
- bdamm 6y agoSalvage mechanics operating on salvage title cars do.
- pengaru 6y agoWhat mechanics do and what insurers pay for are orthogonal. It's not unusual for mechanics to buy newly totaled cars at their salvage value as a convenient exit to the owner, and either rebuild the vehicle or part it out as a side hustle. A repaired salvage vehicle is eligible for a rebuilt title in some states.
- bronson 6y agoSure, body-on-frame cars (before the early 1960s) were easy to weld back into shape. With unibody cars, that doesn't work anymore. Body shops have frame racks to pull steel cars back into shape. That works if the car isn't too bent and your standards aren't too high. Aluminum unibodies don't respond well to bending so yes... If the frame is tweaked enough to screw up the wheel track, that's probably the end of the car. Maybe find a flood car with a good frame and swap everything over. This is true whether the car's body is a single casting or built up by welding 70 pieces together.
- gorbypark 6y agoInsurance companies frequently “write off” cars with major damage that would cost more (or nearly) to repair. They generally don’t scrap them, but then sell them at salvage auctions. They are then bought and repaired by people/companies who specialize in fixing up salvage title vehicles. They are then resold (with a salvage title)...generally you should try to avoid anything with a salvage title as they tend to be fixed as cheaply as humanly possible in order to turn a profit.
- graerg 6y agoToyota replaced the entire frames on a bunch of Tacomas maybe ~10 years ago. So yeah, but obviously not a fun thing to do.