The word “dent” may bring to mind visions of a small but irritating imperfection in a car’s finish. But in the context of auto repair, it refers to a deep scratch or puncture in the metal of a vehicle’s body. While there are many ways to acquire these dents, the most common source is from an impact with another car or object. If you’ve sustained a dent or two, the good news is that they’re easy to repair. The bad news is that not all dents are created equal when it comes to cost and difficulty. Here we examine some of the most common types of metal dents and their repair potential:
The A-pillar is the metal frame that connects the front doors to the car’s main frame. This metal is also often referred to as the “roof” of the car. A-pillar dents are some of the most common types of metal dents, and they’re also some of the easiest to repair. If you’ve sustained an A-pillar dent, you can usually repair it by filling in the dent with a body filler. Body fillers are often made from a mixture of resins and other chemicals that are designed to match the color and texture of the surrounding metal. Once you’ve filled the dent, you can then paint over the area to create a smooth surface once again.
The B-pillar is a metal frame that connects the rear doors to the car’s main frame. B-pillar dents are often caused by another car colliding with the rear end of your car. If you’ve sustained a B-pillar dent, you can usually repair it by filling in the dent with a body filler. Body fillers are often made from a mixture of resins and other chemicals that are designed to match the color and texture of the surrounding metal. Once you’ve filled the dent, you can then paint over the area to create a smooth surface once again.
The Cab corner refers to the metal frame that connects the front and rear doors to the car’s main frame. Cab corner dents are some of the most common types of metal dents, and they’re also some of the easiest to repair. If you’ve sustained a Cab corner dent, you can usually repair it by filling in the dent with a body filler. Body fillers are often made from a mixture of resins and other chemicals that are designed to match the color and texture of the surrounding metal. Once you’ve filled the dent, you can then paint over the area to create a smooth surface once again.
The Door frame is the metal frame that connects the front and back doors to the car’s main frame. Door frame dents are some of the most common types of metal dents, and they’re also some of the easiest to repair. If you’ve sustained a Door frame dent, you can usually repair it by filling in the dent with a body filler. Body fillers are often made from a mixture of resins and other chemicals that are designed to match the color and texture of the surrounding metal. Once you’ve filled the dent, you can then paint over the area to create a smooth surface once again.
The engine side is the metal frame that connects the engine to the car’s main frame. Engine side dents are some of the most common types of metal dents, and they’re also some of the easiest to repair. If you’ve sustained an engine side dent, you can usually repair it by filling in the dent with a body filler. Body fillers are often made from a mixture of resins and other chemicals that are designed to match the color and texture of the surrounding metal. Once you’ve filled the dent, you can then paint over the area to create a smooth surface once again.
The engine block is the metal housing that houses the engine. Engine block dents are some of the most common types of metal dents, and they’re also some of the hardest to repair. If you’ve sustained an engine block dent, you can usually repair it by replacing the engine. Engine block dents are often caused by another car colliding with the front of your car. If you’ve sustained an engine block dent, it’s usually best to leave it alone, as repairing it can be tricky and costly.
Dents in the metal of your car are inevitable, but they don’t have to be permanent. With the right techniques and tools, you can easily repair most dents. And with the right car, the majority of dents can be fixed at home with simple materials found at your local hardware or auto parts store.