Damaged the frame :(
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Northglenn CO
Damaged the frame :(
So I damaged the frame on my 2003 and body shop got it back in a 1/4 inch or so. Always heard, a damaged frame is never the same. I have a shimmy at 40+mph.. guessing the frame. Did I kill my girl?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
Originally Posted by ssnyder
So I damaged the frame on my 2003 and body shop got it back in a 1/4 inch or so. Always heard, a damaged frame is never the same. I have a shimmy at 40+mph.. guessing the frame. Did I kill my girl?
Go back to the Bodyshop and tell them your are unsatisfied.Let them and your insurance deal with it.Your car is supposed to be put back into "pre accident condition".
...The Bodyshop will repair your shimmy even if it is not frame related as it was still due to the accident.They may have missed the damage on the original estimate.Obviously they did not roadtest your car very well prior to delivering it back to you..If you don't tell them you are dissatisfied then you are going to have to either live with this problem or pay for it yourself to be fixed.You did not kill your girl(or else she would have been a write off.).
Last edited by Pureenergy; Sep 10, 2005 at 06:37 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by AU N EGL
1/4" ?? 
tell them you want it with in GM specs which is 1/8".
Or take it to a race shop +/- 1mm
tell them you want it with in GM specs which is 1/8". Or take it to a race shop +/- 1mm
1/4" is nuts.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
Which part of the frame was damaged? A 1/4" in some places won't affect anything, but a 1/4" at a suspension mounting point could make a huge difference. Normally if the car will align back totally perfect then your fine. That includes the steering axis inclination. A shimmy shouldn't be caused by a bent frame. How was the car hit to bend the frame? You may have a bent wheel, these wheel are very easy to bend since the dish on the inside is so deep. They may have left something loose too! Did they give you an alignment sheet showing the specs after the repair? If properly repaired, I wouldn't worry at all about the frames under these cars. Don't know how your car was hit, but my bet is bent wheel.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Red Oak tx
I have been in the collision business for over 20 years. 1/4 inch is not acceptable. With the computorized measuring system I use tolerance is + or - 3 mm. I have measured a C5 and the specs on an undamaged were all 2 mm + or -. The shimmy should not be from the frame, that would affect alignment. You may have a bent wheel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 0
I just got my car back with some new frame rail in the front and the dealer got all the specs from gm and it is perfect and steady as a rock and this after welding in a new piece on the passenger side front--the ins company is paying through the nose for this and they will assess you later believe me so take full advantange and believe me it can be done to perfection--
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Northglenn CO
Thanks for all the feedback. I was trying to avoid the insurance claim to save the rates. I was pushing it a bit hard and hit a curb, bent the wheel and such but didn't think I bent the frame until I got it to the shop.
When I first called the insurance they seemed iffy on if hitting a curb was covered (good thing their papers say collission is with a car or object). Glad to hear I didn't kill her. Wanted one since I could drive, now it seems I just need to learn to drive a real car.
I'll post with another update as soon as I hear from the shop. Hopefully just some suspension part they missed. Thanks again!
When I first called the insurance they seemed iffy on if hitting a curb was covered (good thing their papers say collission is with a car or object). Glad to hear I didn't kill her. Wanted one since I could drive, now it seems I just need to learn to drive a real car.
I'll post with another update as soon as I hear from the shop. Hopefully just some suspension part they missed. Thanks again!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 225
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
so what part of the frame was bent? which wheel impacted curb? speed? directional attitude during impact? this is c5tech, we like specifics, good to see you walked away from the incident
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Northglenn CO
Don't know the part about what of the frame was bent. Speed, about 50mph while making a left hand turn on a bit of a sweeper. The right front wheel took the brunt of the impact.
Insurnance guy called and said the frame needs to be within a few mm of spec. Said they could fix it, so sounds like I'll be back on the road with higher insurance premiums in bit.
Insurnance guy called and said the frame needs to be within a few mm of spec. Said they could fix it, so sounds like I'll be back on the road with higher insurance premiums in bit.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
I'm really surprised you bent the frame hitting a curb with a wheel. These frames on these cars are hard to bend, but wheels and control arms are easily bent! Are they sure it has a bent frame and just not bent control arms? How are they checking? Are they checking frame points or simple wheel alignment? A control arm can be bent and they are really hard to see just looking at them. A friend sailed his 99 off the road at 130+ and it bent about every control arm and all the wheels and remove most of the body panels but didn't hurt the frame at all.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
22 years ago I messed up my 68 Buick frame pretty bad. The dealership tried to do the best they could. I wound up breaking ball joints on the front left side, three of them in 1 year. I know technology has improved quite a bit since then. That car was never right and I had it towed to the junk yard, not wanting to sell it to anyone. I think your problem is minor compared to mine, years ago.. Wish all the luck to you.. Have it done right..
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
If you had a frame repair, I would insist on a laser certification. This is about the best you can do.
No reason a competent frame guy can't do a proper repair.
I also can't see frame damage causing your shimmy, or that hitting the curb bent your frame.
Good Luck!
No reason a competent frame guy can't do a proper repair.
I also can't see frame damage causing your shimmy, or that hitting the curb bent your frame.
Good Luck!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Take it back. A competent frame shop can repair your frame. And, I agree with FRCTony: Insist on the laser frame certification for the best results. Hang in there. 
Best Wishes to You,
Eden
Best Wishes to You,
Eden
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Northglenn CO
Good news! It's back to spec (within a mm or two) after taking it to a different a different shop that focuses on frames. Kudos to Allied Insurance for stepping up fast and getting it into good shops that even pulled me in to show me the measurements etc. Turns out a bearing was damaged as well, that was causing the shimmy. She runs great and I can't tell that there was damage save for the voice in my head. Guy also gave me the name of a race school in town to learn to control the car. Gotta love it!
Thanks to everyone for your insight and help! She is now home and in the garage hiding from rain. I really appreciate eveyone's help and guidance, thanks again!!
Thanks to everyone for your insight and help! She is now home and in the garage hiding from rain. I really appreciate eveyone's help and guidance, thanks again!!