What unibody damage means
Most modern cars have a unibody, meaning the body and frame are one welded structure with crumple zones designed to absorb energy. After a serious hit, those zones may be bent even when the outside looks only dented. A car with bent structure can pull to one side, wear tires unevenly or fail to protect you in the next crash.
Signs to watch for include doors that no longer close evenly, uneven gaps between panels, a steering wheel off center, tires wearing on one edge, and creaks or pulls that were not there before. Any of those after an impact is a reason to have the structure measured.
Measuring is done on a frame machine or with an electronic system that compares your car to factory specifications. Straightening pulls the structure back to those numbers. It takes skill and the right equipment, and we offer frame and unibody straightening for this reason.
Mechanical checks after a collision
Suspension, steering and alignment often need attention after a structural hit, and we offer collision related mechanical repair. We check the parts that the impact may have reached, not unrelated service work. We will tell you what is related and what is not.
An alignment check is a good example. After a structural repair, the wheels need to be set to specification or the car may pull and wear tires. Ask for the printout and keep it with your repair paperwork. If you notice a pull after you pick the car up, bring it back and we will look at it.
Tires, wheels and suspension arms that took the hit should be inspected visually and measured, because a bent arm can look straight to the eye. We list what we found so you can see why a part was replaced instead of reused.
Why Linden drivers choose the neighboring Garwood shop
Structural repair is where an independent shop's judgment matters. We write the repair to factory procedures and explain why. We are independent, work with all insurance companies and bill them directly.
We are I-CAR Gold Class and an AAA Approved Auto Repair facility. AAA members receive 10 percent off labor, up to $75, with their card, not combinable with other offers. Paint work we perform carries a lifetime warranty on paint work only, and we do not extend that to structural work.
Insurance and the right to choose
New Jersey lets you choose a licensed repair shop for your vehicle. Your insurer may suggest a shop and you can try to agree on a price with them, but a suggestion is not a requirement, and nobody can promise blanket payment before the car has been inspected. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has consumer information on auto claims.
If a car is close to being a total loss, your insurer may make that decision based on value and cost of repair. We can supply an estimate and photographs. Send photos through our free estimate form, or book an appointment. Spanish speakers can use our Spanish page for Linden.
Getting to Garwood from Linden
Our only location is 74 North Ave, Garwood, NJ 07027. We have no Linden office, and we perform all work at the Garwood shop.
Route 1 and 9 alone will not take you directly to Garwood, so please do not rely on it as a complete route. Use the map below to connect to Route 28 and follow Route 28 west toward Garwood where it suits your starting point. Our address is on North Ave.
Always check a live map for current routing. If the car is unsafe, call us and we will help coordinate a tow.