A car's core support bent?

flyboyron · January 12, 2016

After taking my wife's car to a body shop after an accident, they say the core support may be bent, but they can straighten it. I think they are trying to save money by not replacing it

Should we just tell them to replace it, or will it be ok if everything looks ok after it is straightened and put back together.

What problems down the road could show up if the core support is not exactly straight like a new one?

robvas · January 12, 2016

It just holds up the radiator - I would be worried about other things being bent though.

Spurshot · January 14, 2016

You should discuss it with your insurance company claims rep. They have a responsibility to ensure the repairs on the car meet a minimum standard acceptable to a lein holder. If they don't seem interested, call your lien holder. I'm thinking straightening is acceptable if it isn't a wrinkled, cracked mess. It's a soft piece of sheet metal, not a heat treated connecting rod. Generally the standard is: returning the car to the original condition, before the accident. You shouldn't see any bent or misaligned parts when it's done.

flyboyron · January 16, 2016

The shop finally got the time to get the car torn apart to find out what the extent of the damage was, and the front bumper bar is bent, along with the front of the frame rails somewhere between where all the front suspension attaches to the frame and the bumper bar because the front alignment is ok.

We got the adjuster to increase time on frame adjusting and added a couple more parts. The estimate is now up to $3,000.00. I am hoping that the insurance co doesn't consider the car totaled. It was a great car and if we get it fixed and painted will last another 2 or 3 years easily.

SnakeEyeSS · January 16, 2016

The shop finally got the time to get the car torn apart to find out what the extent of the damage was, and the front bumper bar is bent, along with the front of the frame rails somewhere between where all the front suspension attaches to the frame and the bumper bar because the front alignment is ok.

We got the adjuster to increase time on frame adjusting and added a couple more parts. The estimate is now up to $3,000.00. I am hoping that the insurance co doesn't consider the car totaled. It was a great car and if we get it fixed and painted will last another 2 or 3 years easily.

It will last longer than that. Its essentially a Corolla.... But it's likely going to be totaled if the $3k estimate is correct.