Body Panels that can be Repaired with PDR
Many people want to know which body panels can be fixed with paintless dent repair on a vehicle. The answer to this question isn’t completely straightforward. It depends on the material that the body panel has been made of, the shape of the panel, the severity of the dent, and the location of the panel on the vehicle and how it affects access to behind the panel. We’ve gathered some information on the types of body panels that can be fixed with PDR.
Hoods can be fixed with Paintless Dent Repair
Generally speaking, most alloy and sheet metal hoods can be repaired with the PDR process. Seeing as most hoods can either be easily removed from the vehicle and the liner can be removed from the hood, PDR technicians can easily access the area underneath your hood to pop out dents.
If your vehicle’s hood sustains a small dent from hail, a falling object, a sports ball, or another circumstance, it can generally be repaired with the PDR process. As long as the paint is still okay and the dent is not too complex. A PDR technician will be able to repair the hood on your vehicle.
There are some types of hoods like carbon fibre hoods or fibreglass hoods that cannot be repaired with PDR. If you have one of these hoods on your vehicle, they are unlikely to be dented, but they will need to be replaced or repaired by an auto body shop.
Most Doors can be Repaired with PDR
Similar to hoods, most alloy and sheet metal doors on your vehicle can be repaired with the PDR process. Because most doors can either be easily removed from the vehicle or the door card, inner cover, or door skin can be removed, PDR technicians can easily access the area behind your doors to pop out dents and restore them to their original shape.
If your door has a small to medium-sized dent from a collision, a door ding, or something else coming into contact with it, the door can generally be repaired with the PDR process. As long as the paint is not cracked, doesn’t have severe impact scratching, and the dent is not too complex, a PDR technician will be able to repair your door.
There are some instances where your door may not be able to be repaired with PDR. Some vehicles have plastic door skins and other things where dents may not pop out, like metal or alloy will. If this is the case, your vehicle will need to go to an auto body shop.
Typically Front Fenders can be Repaired with Paintless Dent Repair
Because front fenders are generally easily removed, the area behind dents in them can be accessed and repaired with the PDR process. Fenders usually bolt onto a support or a piece of your vehicle’s frame making them simple to remove. Once removed, technicians can easily access the area behind them to pop out dents and restore them to their original shape.
If your fender has sustained a dent from a collision or something else coming into contact with it, if the paint is intact, it can probably be repaired with the PDR process. There are some instances where your fender may not be able to be repaired with PDR. Some dents in fenders on body lines end up being too sharp or complex in nature to be removed and for the fender to be restored to its original shape. In cases like these, the fender will need to be replaced, and your vehicle will have to be repaired with the traditional auto body repair process.
Quarter Panels Can Normally be Repaired by PDR
Quarter panels have some of the same characteristics as front fenders, but they can normally not be removed from your vehicle. Quarter panels are usually an integral part of the vehicle’s body, like the body pillars that attach to them. In most cases, the area behind quarter panels can be accessed from inside your vehicle’s trunk or where your tail light attaches to your vehicle.
If your quarter panel has sustained a dent from a collision, a door ding, or something else coming into contact with it, it can generally be repaired with PDR so long as the paint is intact and the dent is not too complex. Some dents on body lines on a quarter panel end up being too sharp or complex in nature to be removed and for the fender to be restored to its original shape. In cases like these, body filler will need to be applied to the panel and your vehicle will have to be repaired with the traditional auto body repair process.
The Vehicle’s Roof Can Normally be Repaired by PDR
The roof of a vehicle is a large horizontal surface and is often prone to getting dents from things falling on it like hail, baseballs, and even sometimes fruit! Luckily, most roof dents are completely repairable with the PDR process.
As long as the headliner in your vehicle can be removed, it is fairly easy for a PDR technician to access the area behind your dents and remove them from your vehicle’s roof. Hail damage and other roof dents from round objects falling on them can generally be removed as they do not damage your paint or severely deform the panel. In some cases, where a tree branch, a rock, or a heavy object has fallen on your roof, the dent may be too severe to be repaired with PDR. In these extreme cases, your vehicle will need body filler to be applied or even a new roof.