I could really use some advise

[EDPA]

I wreaked my 97 cruiser last Sunday ("I almost bought it" in chit-chat section). I found out yesterday that the frame is "a bit bent" but reassured that it is "completely fixable". It is at a very reputable repair shop that offers a life time warrenty as long as I own the car. The body sustained barely any/minimal damage. The steering box, pitman arm, tie rods, and other thngs in that area will be fixed, replaced and repaired to virtually new. I am very upset over this. I'm not sure if I should sell my LC despite my attachment to it and all it's accessories, etc. I'm hearing conflicting stories about the frame being compromised, the vehicle never being the same, etc. I do realize that most importantly nobody was seriously hurt. Anybody have any experience with this? I would greatly appreciate any advise.

 

[Josh83]

My opinion would be to just wait and see how it is when you get it back. If your not comfortable with some aspect of it, trade it off.

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

I wouldn't worry about it until you know something is wrong.

Minor frame damage should not be an issue, and I assume that they will 4-wheel align it to get it straight before they attempt the cosmetic stuff. If they run into problems, they will let you know (and your insurance).

 

[sleeoffroad]

If it was that hard I would make sure they check the axles for strightness as well and all the frame attachemtns where the links etc attach for cracks.

Went through this with my ex wife's truck. Did $8k in bodsy work, only to then discover they needed another $8k in mechanical, which meant the truck should have been totalled from the begining. The body shop just wanted the work. It was State Farm direct linked shop, so they got a quick authorization for the body work and proceeded. I insisted they should check the rest first but they said it was no problem. When they had it all pretty, they could not get it alligned and did not know what do to. Ended up taking it to a Toyota dealer for full inspection of all mechanical and suspension/link/mounts.

Ended up getting them to total the truck. I know you would be sad, but the total value of these trucks are pretty reasonable.

 

[reffug]

I would inquire as to wether or not they use laser's to straighten the frame. My limited understanding of this is that it is a service which is available at higher end shops and will return the frame to original factory spec. That being said you should consider what Christo said above in relation to mechanical problems that may exist.

 

[sixsracing]

The frame shop, if it's reputable, will set the frame to within tolerances. They do this before replacing mechanical pieces in order to find out what is under pressure. If while they are pulling the frame something else breaks, they won't be breaking a new/replaced part. Watched a guy install a rear glass in a 944 before it went on the frame machine. The frame guy commenced to straightening the frame and $1500.00 blew out the back. OUCH! When you get the truck back do a really good inspection under, over and everywhere. Then bring it to an alignment shop immediately and have them set it up. If anything is out of whack it will show up there. Most of the time the horror stories you here about vehicles never being the same is on uni-body cars/trucks. Vehicles with no frames. Chances are the thing was borderline totalled and shouldn't have been fixed in the first place. It doesn't sound like this is the case with your truck.

 

[cruiserdan]

It should go on the frame machine first and get a couple pulls on it. If it straightens out ok, proceed with the rest of the repair. It sounds like a front end hit so do ckeck the front suspemsion arms and axle housing very carefully as Christo has already advised. I have seen those arms bent even as heavy as they are.

 

[TOYOTADRUNK]

I have experienced this with my old 4runner and regreted keeping it, went through tires like crazy, and the frame kept twisting out of kilter. If there are no big kinks in the frame they should be able to fix like new , but if its kinked at all sell it because the frame will never be close to stock.

sorry about your truck.

 

[EDPA]

Yes, the front end suffered most damage. Drivers side specifically. I was told I could take the truck anywhere but I went to a direct link shop that if used my insurance company (USAA) and the shop itself warantees for life. The shop did do the the frame first using a "laser aligner" to set it within Toyota's tolerences. I know the front axel housing is being replaced along with many other parts. I'm not sure about the arms. I'm confident that if they need replacing the shop will do it. I'll certainly suggest they check them. How do they check that; lay the on level ground and they should lay flat? The steering box is a refurbished Toyota. Should I take the truck specifically to a Toyota dealer for an independant inspection? Or where else should I take it? I've always heard that once a cars frames bent, that's it, because it is never as strong. Is that true? What about rock crawling and hitting the frame. Doesn't that tweak the frame at all?

 

[cruiserman]

Do they just pull the frame back in place, or do they weld plates on it for strength?

 

[sixsracing]

Just pull it. Welding plates on a car to "strengthen it" would violate the integrity of the vehicle. It may strengthen it, but the insurance co. and the shop would be liable if anything ever did go wrong. They will restore the vehicle to it's original working order. I'm sure if you wanted to pay to have plates welded in then certain shops would be willing to perform that work. I have seen an 80 off it's frame a couple of years ago. That experience is what prompted me to finally get one. The frame is massive. Just for kicks CDAN, are the frame rails still available as pieces?

 

[sleeoffroad]

Sounds like they are going about it the right way. My experience was where they did it ass backwards. I wanted it on a frame machine from the begnning and they kept insisting it was fine and they checked it. In retrospect I should have gone to the shop and asked for prinouts that confirmed it.

The shop got they buts kicked by State Farm for doing what they did. Pretty much wanted to get the work in the door because they were slow.

State Farm was great and they ended up totalling the vehicle after I insisted on the mechanical damage to be replaced. The shop also wanted to tell me the repair is warranteed for life, but that does not help if you have to deal with repeated attempts later to fix it.

 

[EDPA]

Just what to say thanks for the replies. I guess I'll just wait and see how the truck looks, drives, & feels once I get it back.

 

[cruiserdan]

The frame is massive. Just for kicks CDAN, are the frame rails still available as pieces?

Frame rails have never been available. Some of the cross-members are available and some complete frames are available. A new frame is close to 4 thousand bucks list and is quite an event when it hits the loading dock...

 

[sixsracing]

That's what I meant, just didn't communicate it very well. Thanks.

 

[PHAEDRUS]

frame straightening is really not a big deal as long as the metal has not been bent past a certain degree. ususally if there is a fold or ripple in the steel that overlaps itself it is not safe to repair. the best test I have learned (insuarnce company adjuster by trade) is the paper clip test. if you can put a paper clip (medium size) and have either side of the clip touching the same peice of steel its a goner. there are also crush zones that when compromised are grounds for outright replacement.

I wouldnt worry about the frame too much if the shop will provide you with the data printout from their frame machine. I would owrry about the control arm mounts at teh rear of the arms. after the axle mounts I would say this is the area most likely to receive damage in a heavy front hit. energy will always follow in a line somewhere. If you hit hard enough to toast an axle housing then the arms moved somewhere. either they deflected and absorbed the energy or they transferred it straight back into the mounts and further back along the frame.

definitely get the printout from the shop and post up the data. pm me if you need any more advice.
Dave

 

[helocat]

Frame work done by a reputable shop is back to OE specs. Most likely your insurance company will also give you a lifetime warranty on the repairs as well.

If the accident was not your fault you might be eligible for “diminished value” (DV). This is where a Carfax type report would show the truck had frame repair done to it, thus affecting the reseal value of the truck over others. It is that difference that they would owe you. Also be prepared as it falls into your hands to prove how much the DV is. Body shops and car sales can help you with that. With DV you have to wait until all the repairs are done first before they even consider it. If the accident was your fault, the State of Washington does not allow first party DV. Basically the state (different state to state) says you’re at fault so be happy you have an insurance company paying for it.

Another option is to look at the total ($) value of the written estimate. You can cash out the claim as is for that amount and keep your truck unprepared. This works in your favor if the salvage value (what you can sell the truck as is for) is large. OR you have a buddy that can do the work for $$ less. Most people don’t know they can cash out a claim and keep the truck as is. (NOTE: Does not work if you don’t own the vehicle outright. Of course banks always want the truck repaired if they are on the title.)

Good luck with the repairs!

NOTE: You can ask the body shop to give you back the parts they replace. They don’t have to do this but most will. So in the case of the front end they might be just using a whole front end from a wrecking yard vrs. Buying the housing and tarring down the old and building up the new housing. Nice little pile of parts if they replace the whole front end!


Mark

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Mark is spot on,

definitely keep the old parts, hell if you dont want them let me know and I will grab them for sure.
Dave