How to Repair Hail Damage on a Car?
3 Answers
Methods to repair hail damage on a car include: 1. Pull-out method: Insert the hot melt glue stick from the back of the glue gun, plug the glue gun into a power socket, set the glue gun to a higher temperature, preheat for 3 to 5 minutes to ensure the hot melt glue is completely melted, pull the trigger of the glue gun, apply the melted glue to the traction pad, and pull it outward; 2. Pry-up method: Remove the interior panel of the door, unfasten the door panel clips, disconnect the wiring harness on the door panel, and insert a tool inside the door to pry. Methods for car maintenance include: 1. Avoid washing the car under direct sunlight to prevent the paint from cracking due to sudden temperature changes; 2. Regularly inspect the car's paint surface and address any cracks or scratches promptly.
Last year, my car roof got over a dozen small dents from hail. I managed to fix the shallowest ones with a DIY method: pouring boiling water on the dents, then using a toilet plunger to pull them out while the metal was softened. It worked especially well on dents in the plastic bumper—just a light suction and they popped right back. The metal surface was less responsive and required a few attempts. There are specialized dent-pulling tool kits available on Taobao, complete with hot-melt glue sticks and various-sized puller heads, which turned out to be easier to use than I expected. Of course, this trick only works for minor dents with intact paint; anything deeper than a coin size won’t budge. For larger dents, it’s better to take it to a repair shop—trying to DIY could crack the clear coat.
Hailstorms are common in our area, and car enthusiasts often discuss dent repairs. The most popular method is PDR (Paintless Dent Repair), where technicians use various pry bars to push the dents out from the inside of the door panels, adjusting angles with light reflection. I just tried it last week—the repair shop removed the windshield to fix roof dents without using any filler. However, be cautious with older cars; my neighbor's vintage car had hardened body panels, and a crack appeared during the repair with a loud 'snap.' After repair, it's recommended to apply crystal coating on the paint, as hail dents tend to trap moisture and rust easily. Pricing is per dent, with package deals for 20+ dents, which is much more cost-effective than individual repairs.
