What is the tolerance for frame bend?

Can frame bend by aging - not by crash accident-?

You would be amazed what a good body shop can do. Here is a pic of an Infinity on a frame straightening machine.

Frames do not bend because of age.

__________________
Jim

Wheel alignment machine also tell frame bend. My car went through wheel alignment and the alignment technician told me nothing about the frame. Then I do not need to worry about frame bend. Right?

I heard it takes several days to straighten the frame.



I found rear of my driver's door a little down. 1992 300D. There was a gap beteween the rubber above the door and the body roof frame.

I asked a bodyshop and he said that a door can go down by aging.

I had my mechanic adjust the door when I went there for lubrication service last December.

Now the rear of the driver's door look very slightly up compared to rear door. The rubber above the door touches the ceiling frame.


When I bought my car last May, it had no accident report on the CARFAX.

I remember me checking body alignment (door lines, hood, . . ) carefully while I was shopping for a car. So it is hard to guess when the driver's door went out of position. I had a very minor accident last summer but that should not be the cause. Even the police said we do not need any police report. My car had only scratch on the bumper and damaged license plate. The Honda had a little damage from the front bumper (side. just in front of the front wheel) to middle of the right rear door.)

Sounds more like a saging or worn hinge.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

If the gap between the rubber and ceiling frame at the rear of the driver's door was due to frame damage, there should be gap between the rubber and ceiling frame at the front of the rear door too.

The rear doors have been in good position with respect to the ceiling frame and body line behind the rear door.

I also thought there might have been some A pillar backward movement that had made the driver's door misalign. If that was the case, there should be gap between the rubber and the ceiling frame at the "front" of the driver's door.

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frames do not bend because of age.

but they will bend if, because of years of use (i.e., exposure to the elements and stresses), certain critical areas have corroded.

a frame that has been straightened after an accident will have less strength than one that has not been bent before.