So just yesterday I was returning from the mountains and I hit some black ice, my truck slid into a snow bank and damaged the front end. Luckily, the majority of the damage was done to the bumper; which, I can easily replace. In the grand scheme of things, the passenger side, front corner of my truck hit a tree; which, secured a decent size dent right below my headlight. I would like to know if there is an economical way to repair this dent? I know that if I take it to a body shop they will most likely charge an arm and a leg, so how can I fix this myself? I appreciate any constructive input.
Need advice on dent, help!
- Thread starter TechNomad
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Seems like an awfully small dent in a confined space to pound out from the back side of it, if it's even accessible. Worth a shot. Otherwise I would say a new used fender is in order.
Is all the damage on the fender only or did it get into the grille surround? I can't tell from the glare in the pic.
Danny
Is all the damage on the fender only or did it get into the grille surround? I can't tell from the glare in the pic.
Danny
- Thread starter
- #3
I found that by removing the leftmost headlight, I could easily access the back of the dent. The narrow panel between the grill and the bumper with those rectangular lights has been slightly bent in, but I think that it could be easily bent back into shape. What's the technique to pounding out a dent like this? If I end up needing a fender, where could find one? Thanks for your feedback!
The problem is most people beat the dent out then take it to the body shop
And actually make it harder to fix
That is going to be a tough one to bump Out
Without stretching the metal because of how small a area and sharpness of dent
Without body filler and paint it will probably look worse
At least put some touch up paint on it to stop it from rusting
For now
And actually make it harder to fix
That is going to be a tough one to bump Out
Without stretching the metal because of how small a area and sharpness of dent
Without body filler and paint it will probably look worse
At least put some touch up paint on it to stop it from rusting
For now
Find a replacement fender. The price a decent bodyshop would charge you in trying to get it looking somewhat normal again would be more than the cost of a replacement. Looks like you'll have some work to do on the valance as well. I'd find a junkyard (Pick-N-Pull)with the parts. This way you can get the bumper, fender and valance. Hell, you might get luck and find one the same color. It's happened to me in the past.
Just pounding it out is a delicate process. Like stated before, you can't just bang on it with a hammer without knowing the right way to do it (if you wanted to actually save the fender).
It's really not that bad. If you were to bring that into my shop, I would pull the fender off, straighten out most of the damage with alot of noise, and by the time I was done, it would not need much filler. I would then shoot some primer over the repair, spray the color, blending it into the rest of the fender to ensure a good match, then clear the fender. Done. Really it's not more than a $2-250 repair.
I do not know how much a new or even used fender will cost you, but even if you find one the same factory color, it will not match and would have to be completely refinished to match the rest of the vehicle.
It's really not that bad. If you were to bring that into my shop, I would pull the fender off, straighten out most of the damage with alot of noise, and by the time I was done, it would not need much filler. I would then shoot some primer over the repair, spray the color, blending it into the rest of the fender to ensure a good match, then clear the fender. Done. Really it's not more than a $2-250 repair.
I do not know how much a new or even used fender will cost you, but even if you find one the same factory color, it will not match and would have to be completely refinished to match the rest of the vehicle.
