The Art of Auto-Body Repair

Auto body repair is an art form. Restoring a vehicle to perfect working order after it has been in a collision, requires an expert mechanic with years of experience, as well as a slew of specialized tools.
Even minor exterior repairs, such as dent removal and paint refinishing, requires expert craftsmanship in order to color-match the vehicle's paint and perfectly smooth out all exterior damage.
With that being said, there are a number of extensive restoration skills that set a professional auto-body garage apart from an inept repair shop.
Damage Appraisal
Collision repair specialists have extensive experience in appraising the damage that occurs from an automobile accident. This is especially important when it comes to severe accidents, as much of the damage incurred can be hidden beneath the vehicle's exterior.
Simply restoring the vehicle's exterior is only half the battle: damage to the chassis, suspension, and other mechanical components must also be properly diagnosed in order to ensure that the vehicle is safe and reliable once it is back on the road.
Trained mechanics at an expert auto-body repair shop have the skills and experience to extensively diagnose any underlying damage caused by an accident.
By reviewing the circumstances of an accident and utilizing advanced diagnostic tools, collision repair specialists are able to diagnose and repair all of the damage incurred from the accident.
Seemingly minor undiagnosed problems, such as small stress fractures and bends in the chassis, can cause unsafe vehicle handling characteristics which can lead to expensive future repairs and/or additional accidents when the vehicle is in operation.
It is therefore imperative that all damage is properly diagnosed and repaired before the vehicle is released from the shop in order to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers.
Frame and Chassis Realignment
A vehicle's chassis is essentially its skeleton, on which the engine, suspension, and all other mechanical components are mounted. A perfectly aligned chassis is therefore necessary to ensure that the vehicle is safe and reliable, especially when driving at high speeds.
Even a slight misalignment can cause jerky steering behavior or unpredictable handling characteristics which can result in a future accident.
When performing collision repair services, an auto-body repair shop will strip all components from the vehicle chassis in order to check for damage.
By using advanced tools such as laser alignment systems, mechanics can determine if any portions of the frame were bent during the accident. Bent portions of the chassis are then straightened out and realigned to ensure the vehicle handles safely when it is reassembled.
If sections of the chassis are damaged beyond repair, mechanics can cut out the damaged portions and weld in new frame sections to maintain the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Exterior Panel Alignment
A vehicle's exterior consists of numerous separate panels. For example, the front build of a vehicle generally includes a polycarbonate bumper, a metal hood, and metal fenders over each wheel.
When one or more sections are damaged and require replacement, the panels must be carefully aligned to maintain the smooth, uniform appearance of the vehicle's exterior. A misaligned hood, bumper, or fender, creates unsightly gaps that ruin the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.
Collision repair specialists have extensive expertise when it comes to refitting and properly aligning exterior panels. Through the use of specialized tools such as tram gauges, slip jacks, and precision gap wedges, new exterior panels can be properly installed onto the vehicle while maintaining a flush, symmetrical appearance.
Dent Removal and Paint Color-Matching
Minor accidents don't always necessitate the replacement of exterior panels. Cosmetic mechanics will sometimes use specialized tools such as dent pullers and slide hammers to restore a flush surface on exterior panels.
However, more severe dents and scrapes may require that the panel be repaired and repainted. Generally the area is sanded down as smoothly as possible, and a type of body-filler such as Bondo is applied to the affected area. The area is then sanded down once again in order to achieve a perfectly smooth surface which can then be painted.
One of the most difficult aspects of restoring a damaged vehicle's exterior is color-matching the paint on new components. If the paint on new exterior components, is even slightly off-color, the overall aesthetic of the vehicle is thrown off.
Paint specialists can't rely entirely on the original manufacturer's color code, as body panels are likely to fade slightly in color over time.
Instead, specialists will slightly alter the paint color so that it matches the entire vehicle. Applying the paint while maintaining a like-new smooth surface is also an extremely difficult task: even a slight misapplication can lead to bubbles or an orange-peel consistency that makes the replaced components appear cheap and nonuniform.

Helping the Environment, Whilst Driving Your Car

There are quite a few ways we can help the environment even by owning a car. These few tips have been given to us by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) experts. The two most common things we can do, says the ASE, are to improve the way we drive and to make sure we get our cars serviced and maintained regularly. If our car is emitting too much carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment these checks can pick it up, and correct it as soon as possible. Looking after your car in this way will help it last longer, and if you decided to sell it, it will go for a better price.
The above two tips are the most common ones, but here is a list from ASE with more things you can do to help the environment:
• If your car engine is not running and performing correctly, it could cause a spark plug to misfire. This alone can reduce the efficiency of its fuel by about 30%. You are advised to replace the fluids and filters in the engine regularly, according to the owner's car manual.
• If you see the Service Engine light up on your dashboard, you must act immediately. The newer cars of today are built to be much cleaner than previous years, but if left untreated it can still pollute our air. If your car engine is not running properly it could cause the exhaust system to not function properly emit harmful gases into the Earth's atmosphere.
• Always make sure that your car's tyres are aligned and inflated properly. If these are at the correct pressure they will reduce the effort of the engine, as well as fuel consumption. At the same time your tyres will last longer, which in turn saves you money.
• Speeding is not advised under any circumstances, as every country has their speed limits in place. Driving at the right speed limit will reduce your car's acceleration, as well as save your fuel. The faster you go, the more petrol it will take. Try to reduce the amount of fuel you use, by making the one trip to the shops or any other errands you have to do.
• If your car is fitted with air conditioning, only have it maintained with a qualified technician, as they will understand how to recycle and handle refrigerants. Those of us that have an older car, and older air conditioning system will have ozone-depleting chemicals that will seep into the atmosphere.
• Try not to clutter your car with too many items. This will add to the weight in the car, and that will consume more fuel per mile. If your car is fitted with a roof rack, try to remember to remove it after your holiday, as this can reduce the drag through the air.
• When carrying out your own repairs on your car make sure you dispose of batteries and engine fluids safely. Contact the right organisations and recycling centres to check where you can leave them. Not only is disposing of certain chemicals in the wrong place harmful to the environment, it can also bring harm to wildlife and pets.

Gearbox Reconditioning: Everything You Need To Know

Ask anyone, whether they're a newbie driver or someone who has been behind the wheel for years; there is nothing more stressful and quite annoying then having to unexpectedly visit the garage. Whether it is because we feel at a loss without our vehicles or we fear the unexpected bill; a visit to a mechanic is unsurprisingly a driver's worst nightmare.
Knowing your vehicle is scheduled in for a regular service or having to be towed in as the result of a breakdown, either way we all get that dreaded feeling. However if your car is suffering, it really will only be a specialist mechanic who will be able to bring it back to life.
One of the main reasons why vehicles require the care and attention of a qualified mechanic is as a result of engine trouble. Whether the vehicle is automatic or manual, engine issues are often unavoidable but must be dealt with immediately in order to ensure that you aren't faced with an even larger bill then you may have expected.
Some of the prime mechanical issues to arise with engines include...

• Clutch and gear stick issues
• Overheating transmission
• Unexplained noises
• Gear slips
• Dragging clutch (often accompanied by a grinding noise)
• Leaking transmission fluid
• Check engine light

Many engine issues are immediately noticeable however other's aren't, particularly within an automatic vehicle however this is where the check engine light comes in. Unfortunately many drivers dismiss the check engine light however, in newer models it is often only prompted to come on when an abnormality is spotted by the cars sensors. Responding to the check engine light immediately can save an unexpected breakdown.

Not sure what a gearbox repair and reconditioning service can do? Here's the need to know basics...

• Reconditioning and repairs are considered to be the best way to bring the quality of your machine back to its best following a breakdown or any issues.
• Qualified mechanics will only ever use original parts and include the right warranties.
• Whatever the issue, successful reconditioning can bring process back to 100% operational availability.
• Gearbox reconditioning is far more cost-effective than the alternative of an entire replacement.

We know that a visit to the garage can always be a little worrying but as long as you're in the hands of a dedicated and qualified professional, your car will be taken care of in a realistic timeframe and at a realistic cost.
The engine is the heart of your vehicle which will occasionally face trouble but the moment you spot anything unusual, act quickly and head straight to your mechanic for a gearbox reconditioning to get everything ticking again, without any unneeded hassle.