Chassis Straightening
Our top priority at Mt Roskill Collision Centre is getting you back on the road and keeping you driving as safely as possible. Therefore, we can help with car repair and panel beating services you may need after a collision or simply for your vehicle’s ongoing maintenance.
If you have been involved in an accident and come to us for dent, bumper or body repair work, we’ll often assess whether your vehicle’s chassis needs straightening.
What is chassis straightening, a.k.a frame straightening?
A simple definition of the chassis of your vehicle is its frame or base. Pronounced “chas-ee”, it is the main structure that acts as the core of your car. The centre point for the other main components and the frame that gives it strength and stability. The suspension system and steering system are attached to the chassis.
The engine is mounted on the chassis. The driveshaft, axles, wheels and brakes are all interdependent within the chassis. Therefore, it is also the part of your vehicle that provides much of its stability and safety.
Why should I get my vehicle’s chassis assessed?
If your vehicle’s chassis has been damaged in a collision, it is essential to have it assessed and, if possible, repaired. If you continue to drive with a chassis that has been bent or damaged, not only will there be potential safety issues with your vehicle. But you may also have safety and performance issues with other parts.
For example, if your chassis has been bent or cracked in an accident, your wheel alignment may be off as a result. Your car will then pull to one side, which in turn causes damage to the tyres and steering system. Additionally, it will also affect the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Driving around with a damaged chassis will affect how your tyres wear.
Furthermore, it will also affect your shocks and suspension system. It’s not something you want to ignore. Most importantly, however, you should check your chassis for damage to make sure your vehicle is safe to drive.
It’s not always a collision with another vehicle that causes damage to a chassis. Other types of impact may also require straightening of your chassis. For instance, like hitting a wall or hitting a large bump off-road. A bent chassis may also result from rolling your vehicle off-road.
More common than you might think with vehicles used in rural areas. If you hear any strange noises after such an impact or sense that your car is driving oddly. Get in touch with us to arrange a check of your chassis.
What’s the safety risk of a damaged chassis?
Driving a vehicle with a damaged chassis is very unsafe for you, your passengers, and other motorists on the road. If the damaged chassis causes your car to swerve suddenly or it makes you lose control of the steering, this could result in a serious accident. You could hit another vehicle, an object, or a pedestrian. It’s not worth the risk.
The other important safety risk to consider is the damage or injury that might occur to you and your passengers if you drive around with a damaged chassis. The frame of your vehicle protects you if you get hit or if you roll your car. As soon as it is cracked, dented or damaged, the protection is significantly compromised and ineffective.
Just as you shouldn’t use a cracked helmet, you shouldn’t drive around with a damaged chassis. In addition, chances are your insurance company won’t cover any damage or injury you cause because you’re driving with a damaged chassis.
Can a chassis always be straightened?
At Mt Roskill Collision Centre, we can usually straighten a chassis that has been bumped or bent after a collision. Our team also assess where the damage is and use the latest computerised 3D chassis measuring system to determine what repair work is needed.
We can mend cracks in the steel if there are any. And we can patch and repair other areas of damage. Maintaining the structural integrity and safety of the chassis.
In some instances, the damage to the chassis may be extensive and straightening or mending it may not be advisable. We always put safety first and we will never perform work on a vehicle that doesn’t ensure it is safe to operate.
Do insurance companies approve of it?
We work with several major insurance companies throughout New Zealand and can assess whether a vehicle can be repaired or needs to be written off. When it is safe to repair and/or straighten a chassis, this is work that insurance companies cover. If a car’s chassis cannot be safely straightened, the car will need to be written off.
Can any model chassis be straightened?
There are a number of different types of chassis, depending on the make, model and age of a vehicle. Some examples include a ladder frame, backbone, monocoque, uniframe or tubular chassis. You don’t need to know what type of chassis you have. We can repair most models in New Zealand.
The experienced team at Mt Roskill Collision Centre specialises in collision repairs and chassis straightening for an extensive range of cars, utes and truck brands. Including Honda, Toyota, Holden, Ford, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW, Kia, Hyundai, Suzuki, Nissan, and Mazda.
Chassis Straightening Auckland
The Mt Roskill Collision Centre Promise: Our goal is to have everyone on New Zealand roads driving safely. We offer a lifetime guarantee on our car repairs from our panel beating and collision repair service centre in Mt Roskill, Auckland. Contact us online or call us on 0800 227 762 for a free quote or to book an appointment.