What Is Frame Straightening—and Do You Really Need It After a Crash?

Restoring Your Car’s Integrity

When your car is involved in a collision, the damage isn’t always visible from the outside. In many cases, the vehicle’s frame or unibody structure takes the impact—and that’s where frame straightening comes into play.

At Victory Auto Body and Paint in Burbank, we use advanced tools to restore your vehicle’s frame to factory specifications. Here’s what frame straightening involves and why it’s critical to the safety and performance of your car.

What Is Frame Straightening?
Frame straightening is the process of using computerized measuring systems and hydraulic equipment to realign a vehicle’s chassis or unibody structure after a collision. If the frame is bent, twisted, or misaligned, it can compromise the way your car drives, handles, and protects you in another accident.

Signs You Might Need Frame Straightening
You won’t always see frame damage with the naked eye. But there are some signs that may point to the need for this repair:

• Uneven gaps between body panels
• Difficulty closing doors, trunks, or hoods
• Steering feels off or the car pulls to one side
• Tires wear unevenly
• Visible damage near the wheel wells or undercarriage

If any of these apply to your vehicle after an accident, it’s important to bring it in for an inspection right away.

How the Process Works
At Victory, our team uses laser-guided measuring equipment to assess the alignment of your frame. If we find deviations from the manufacturer’s specifications, we use high-powered frame machines to gently and precisely pull the frame back into place.

We document the process and remeasure to ensure accuracy—your safety depends on it.

Is It Always Worth Fixing?
Not every collision bends the frame. In some cases, damage is only cosmetic or limited to bolt-on panels. However, if your car’s frame is even slightly compromised, it must be corrected before any additional repairs are done.

Ignoring frame damage can reduce your car’s crashworthiness, affect alignment, and make future repairs more difficult.

Final Thoughts
Frame straightening isn’t just about making your car look right—it’s about making sure it drives right, protects you, and performs safely. At Victory Auto Body and Paint, we treat every vehicle with precision, care, and the latest technology to get you back on the road safely.

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