Is it acceptable if the longitudinal beam is damaged?
4 Answers
It is not acceptable if the longitudinal beam is damaged, as the longitudinal beam is a structural component of the vehicle body. Damage to this part can compromise the overall safety of the car. Most family sedans or urban SUVs use a unibody construction, where the body frame protects the occupants in the event of a collision. If the body frame has been repaired, its strength may be reduced, making it less effective in protecting occupants during subsequent collisions. When purchasing a used car, it is crucial to check whether the vehicle's body frame has been damaged. If the longitudinal beam is deformed and not properly repaired, it can also lead to inaccurate wheel alignment data, affecting the vehicle's driving stability and safety.
As an experienced driver with years of driving under my belt, I believe you need to be extra cautious if the frame rails are damaged—they're essentially the backbone of the car, supporting the entire body structure. I once encountered a vehicle that had been in an accident; even with just slight bending of the frame rails, the car felt loose when driven, and stability during turns was significantly compromised. Ignoring such damage could lead to airbag failure in the event of another collision, resulting in more severe consequences. My advice is to immediately take it to a professional repair shop for an inspection using a thickness gauge to assess the extent of deformation. Minor damage can be corrected through welding, but the repaired strength will be greatly reduced, negatively impacting the vehicle's lifespan and resale value. In the long run, such cars aren't suitable for long-distance or high-speed driving. If safety is a priority, it's better to scrap the car and get a new one rather than take risks to save money. In short, don't delay—the sooner you address it, the less hassle you'll face.
From an average car owner's perspective, if my vehicle's frame rail gets damaged, I'd definitely be concerned about safety and repair costs. Fixing it is troublesome and expensive - replacing a new frame rail could cost over ten thousand yuan, plus labor fees, which might amount to half the price of an affordable car. If my beloved car isn't worth much anymore, it really doesn't make sense to reinvest. I've tried using metal straightening for minor scratches before - it worked temporarily, but I could feel the body instability when driving on highways, which affected my driving experience. In the long run, it might also accelerate suspension wear, leading to unnecessary expenses. So I'd weigh my options: if the damage is minor and the car is relatively new, get it repaired immediately; if it's an old car, I'd just sell or scrap it, saving the money for a reliable daily driver to enjoy peace of mind.
From a repair perspective, frame rail damage can be addressed case by case. Minor scratches or slight bends can still be straightened using a frame straightener, but this requires professional equipment and skills; severe deformation necessitates replacement with new parts, a complex process that may involve engine removal. Post-repair, a full vehicle inspection is mandatory to confirm no hidden risks. The costs are substantial and the labor time lengthy, making it sometimes better to directly assess the risks: if the core structure is compromised, there might still be potential hazards even after repair. For safety, owners should promptly send their vehicles for inspection to avoid driving compromised cars.
