How to Find the Right Auto Body Shop

If you own one — or several — cars, chances are you’ll need the services of a professional, reliable auto body shop at one time or another. Whether you’ve been in an accident or simply want to make your vehicle look as good as it did when you first drove it off the lot, it’s important to find the right body shop to meet your needs. Just like no two cars are alike, neither are body shops.

Begin by checking credentials. If a shop claims to be part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) or have Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification, don’t take the information at face value. Ask to see the paperwork, or verify it even further by checking with the proper association yourself.

Being part of an association doesn’t ensure a good company, however. Pay attention to reviews from previous customers, too. See who your friends and family members recommend, and always check Google and other review sites to see what the shop’s overall rating is. An occasional bad review is likely for even the best of businesses, but if many customers have complaints, or if there are many complaints in a recent timeframe, you should continue your search.

Once you narrow your choices down to two or three auto body shops, ask specific questions regarding the work you want done, and get specific estimates in writing. If one seems to be much higher than the others, tell them you’ve gotten more affordable quotes and ask them to justify their estimate. On the other hand, though, remember that you get what you pay for. If a quote seems too good to be true, you could be getting yourself into a situation that results in shoddy work.

Estimates, certifications and reviews are important, but you should also keep some other factors in mind. Not all shops work on all vehicle models and makes, so be sure the shop you choose can actually work on your car. Consider how clean the establishment looks and how friendly and professional the staff seems during your visit. A good auto body shop’s staff will be patient, answer questions thoroughly and not make you feel rushed.

Finally, begin your search before you actually need an auto body professional. Trying to find a shop in a rush might result in making a poor choice that costs you more money in the long run. To learn more about auto body repair in Raleigh, click the link.

The Benefits of a Tonneau Cover

A truck is a powerful vehicle. Many people purchase a truck because they want to be able to fully take advantage of the extra space that a truck bed can provide. Since a good deal of expensive equipment is stored in a truck on any given day, it can be important to take extra levels of precaution to protect your valuables. In order to ensure that the items you are transporting in the back of your truck are kept safe, a tonneau cover might be an excellent item to invest in. There are a number of amazing benefits that can come along with using a tonneau cover on your truck.

A tonneau cover is a large, durable accessory for your car that can completely cover the truck bed in a safe and convenient way. The biggest reason to invest in a tonneau cover is for the extra level of protection that it can provide. Often, a truck bed is wide open, leaving anything stored in the back at the mercy of the elements. A tonneau cover exists so that your stuff does not get ruined by an unforeseen thunderstorm or similar weather event. Tonneau covers are durable and reliable and they can offer a great deal of security for anything that might be stored in your truck.

There is also a level of convenience that comes with a tonneau cover. Depending on the size of your truck, you can invest in a cover those folds in a specific way. A smaller truck might benefit from a tonneau cover those folds in half, while a larger truck might need a cover that folds into thirds. This allows for easy access to your tools and equipment without having to take the entire cover off each time you go into the back of your truck.

Safety is always a concern for motorists. This concern is even stronger with a truck, as a good deal of what is stored in a truck is exposed to whoever is walking by. A tonneau cover not only hides anything that might be in the back of your truck, but it also provides an extra level of safety. Potential thieves will not be able to see the valuables that are in your truck, and the durable nature of tonneau covers will help to keep any unwanted individuals away from your vehicle.

Make the right decision and keep your valuables safe and secure with a tonneau cover while in the back of your truck. Visit this website for more information on tonneau cover in Murrieta.

What Kinds of Chips in Windshields can be Fixed?

Sometimes you will have no choice but to completely replace a broken windshield, but it is always easier and more affordable when you are able to just get it repaired. A professional may need to examine your vehicle to determine which option is best, but you should be able to figure out on your own if a chip is able to get a simple fix or if it requires a total replacement.

Size

A crack that is less than three inches long or a chip less than one inch in diameter should be able to be fixed without any problems. Anything larger will require you to go to an auto shop to see what your options are. It is possible for larger chips and cracks to be repaired, but that should be at the discretion of a professional.

Location

Sometimes repairs leave behind mistiness or discoloration on your windshield. This may not be a problem if the chip is somewhere virtually unnoticeable, but if it is right in your line of sight, a simple repair may not be your best option.

The best way to determine the severity of a chip in your windshield is to see if it is impairing your vision in any way at all. Additionally, you should always trust the advice given to you by an experienced auto body technician. Visit this website to learn more about a windshield replacement in Raleigh.

Auto Materials Are Changing Quickly

There have been many recent developments in the materials used in cars. Many manufacturers have been moving toward lighter materials like aluminum, and have been leaving steel behind.

Paintless Dent Removal: How Does It Work?

Do you have dents on your vehicle that need to be repaired? Consider using paintless dent removal. Whether the damage be from door dings, hail, rocks or other objects that can cause cavities and creases, this process can fix your vehicle’s defects as long as the paint is still in tact. But how does it work? Professionals will typically use the following process to remove your dents:

1. Assess the damage.

Before anything else, professionals will want to take a look at the dent and figure out how they can most easily access and remove it. Once they have assessed the damage, they can prepare the area for the repair.

2. Obtain access.

To remove the dent, you will usually need to reach the back side of it. As a result, technicians will probably need to remove body panels and sometimes even tail lights or interior panels.

3.  Get a better view.

Now that the dent is visible from the opposite side of the panel, technicians will shine a special light on it that will help them determine exactly where they need to place their tools in order to remove the dent.

4. Apply pressure.

The last and most important step of paintless removal is to slowly massage out the dent using special tools. Depending on the severity of the indentation, this usually will not take long, with the whole process taking no more than a few hours.

Paintless dent removal is an excellent option for those who have minor vehicle damage that they need repaired quickly and easily. For more information on paintless dent removal in Raleigh, please visit this website.

Aluminum Car Repairs

As the durability and safety of cars have increased, manufacturers have begun to use newer materials. While Aluminum may seem like a surprising addition to cars, it provides many new benefits. It is time to embrace the change.

The Car Paint Color Matching Process

Do you have a scratch, ding or other area on your car that needs to be repaired with paint? Because finding the exact same shade can be a difficult task, especially if your car is older, it may be best to have a professional do it for you. Here is how the process works:

1. Figure out the color code.

To figure out the color code of the paint on your car, you will need to know the model number, year and manufacturer of your car. You can then go to the manufacturer’s site and find the color code if your car is new enough. You may also be able to find it on your vehicle’s identification plate.

2. Order the paint.

Your technician will then order the paint that matches the color code. Some vehicles will need multiple paint colors because they have more than one tone.

3. Mix the paint.

This is the most important step of the color matching process. Your technician will adjust the hue using variations in darkness and lightness. They will then blend the color to avoid it turning out too dark or too light. Once they have the perfect shade, they are ready to repair your vehicle.

If you have any damage on your car that needs to be repaired with paint, have a technician take a look at it so you can quickly and easily get your vehicle looking good as new. For more information on automobile painting in Raleigh, visit this website.

Crushed Car with Airbags Deployed

Car companies have taken extra precautions when it comes to safety. With both front and side airbags deployed, you can see the level of protection this blue car offers when involved in a simulated crash setting. With options like this, you never have to put your safety up to chance.

Is It Safe to Drive a Dented Car?

Car dents are a common problem among auto owners. Whether another vehicle dinged you when trying to park, you were in a minor car accident or your car was pummeled by hail or falling branches during a storm, dents are often unpreventable.

Some car owners believe that dents are a minor cosmetic issue and do not need to be repaired quickly, or ever. While this is true in some cases, dents can cause and contribute to several types of problems, all of which may end up compromising the safety of your vehicle.

Whether or not a dent is a safety issue can depend on a few factors, including the location and the severity of the dent. If the dent has broken the paint coating on your automobile, you should have that dent repaired as soon as possible. A compromised paint coating leaves your car vulnerable to rust and other corrosive influences. Rust will spread and eventually weaken the structure of your car, which is a major safety issue.

Another issue to consider when deciding if a dent is worth repairing is the location of the dent. Dents to the bumper can be especially dangerous. Even a seemingly minor ding can damage the inner structure of the bumper, including the reinforcing bars and foam or plastic parts that serve to absorb energy from a collision. Damage to your bumper will deprive you of significant protection in the event of an accident. If your bumper is dented, assume that your car is not safe to drive and see a qualified car mechanic right away.

Car doors are another potentially problematic are for dents. It is common enough to see vehicles with dented doors, usually as a result of a minor collision. Even a small dent, however, can result in structural damage to your door’s locking mechanism. In ordinary circumstances, having a door lock that works poorly or not at all is an inconvenience that many owners may choose to ignore. However, in the event of an accident, a malfunctioning door may trap passengers or the driver in the car. The safety risk is simply not worth it.

While, in many cases, minor dents are indeed a purely cosmetic issue and do not affect safety, this is not always the case. Even when there is no broken paint and no apparent safety issue, a small dent can result in hidden damage that can lead to compromised safety. If your vehicle gets dented, the best thing to do is have an experienced mechanic examine your car and make sure that it is safe to drive. Click here to learn more about auto detailing in Clayton.

Things Everyone Should Know AboutLeaking CV Axle Boots

Constant velocity (CV) axles are important parts of your vehicle. Not only do they transfer power to the wheels, but they also allow for flexibility when driving. This is necessary for turning the vehicle at a variety of different angles as well as driving on bumpy roads. Almost all cars are equipped with these axles and some of them even have them in the driveline.

CV axles are made of bearings and cages, which allow for the axle to change its length as it moves up and down. They also help the joint to rotate and deliver power on various planes and angles. These bearings and cages are protected with grease that is contained in a very flexible rubber boot. Without this boot, grease would leak out of the CV joints, leaving them dry. In addition, it would allow grime and dirt to collect on the axles, causing permanent damage.

These rubber boots naturally wear out over time, and as a result, they will sometimes need to be replaced. When a CV axle boot is damaged by a crack, tear, or other deformity, grease will slowly leak out and dirt and moisture will make its way in. This will contaminate the joint and wear it down very quickly. As a result, it’s best to replace the whole CV axle instead of just the boot, since grime and other contaminates will likely have already made their way in.

However, if you inspect these boots on a regular basis, you may be able to catch the problem before it has caused any damage to the joint. This can end up saving you hundreds of dollars since replacing CV axles can be very expensive. The best way to see cracks in the boots is if you turn the steering wheel as far as you can to each side. You can also ask your mechanic to check them whenever you get your oil changed, as it will only take a minute.

If you are unsure if your CV axle or boot has been damaged, there are a few signs you can look for. You may hear a clicking, cracking, or clunking noise while you are driving, especially when turning, accelerating, or decelerating. If you hear any of these sounds, you will need to take your car in for maintenance as soon as possible. When the axle fails completely, the car will not be able to drive since it cannot transfer power to the wheels any more.