Repairing dents? | Ford Explorer Forums

  • Register Today It's free!

Repairing dents?

Ryon40

Well-Known Member
Joined
March 30, 2009
Messages
155
Reaction score
0
City, State
Cincinnati, OH
Year, Model & Trim Level
1998 Explorer Sport 4x4
My car was sideswiped in a parking lot about a month ago. My front driver side fender is dented pretty good as well as the flare, drivers door, and rear panel just behind the door. I plan on buying a new mirror as it was destroyed, but doesn anyone know how I can go about fixing this?

Id imagine I can just replace the front fender, fender flare, and mirror. But what about the door and rear panel? Do I need to replace the whole door? The dents can't be popped they're pretty deep and creased to where the paint is chipped.

This is probably the wrong place for the thread and I apopligize I haven't been on in a long while, so mods feel free to merge this thread. Any ideas on how to fix these issues? Thanks in advance!
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





:ttiwwp:
Attach some pics and we may be able to give a little assistance. I would recomend consulting a body shop.
 






Yeah, pictures would help alot. Yes you could just bolt a different door on if your's is too damaged. As for the rear panel, if it isn't creased too much you can remove the interior panel and bang it out from the inside. You'd still have to use body filler to smooth out all the rough spots.
 






Sorry it took so long fellas, I have been swamped with work. Thanks for your replies though.

Here they are

untitled-2.jpg


untitled1.jpg


untitled2.jpg


untitled3.jpg


untitled4.jpg


It really took a hit behind the door
 






It would be well worth the deductible to turn it in to your insurance after seeing the damage in the pictures. The fender, senior can easily be replaced by you but the quarter panel and door jamb look really tweaked. I'd have a professional shop with a frame rack check it out to make sure the body wasn't shifted over on the frame, also the suspension and drivetrain. You'd be surprised at what damage you don't visually see can be caused with hits like this. Make sure the check the suspension and drivetrain because it's commonly over looked and you'll have to shell out the cost a couple months down the road when things either finally break or wear out from the hidden damage. My neighbor has his own frame shop next door to me and most of my friends are autobody guys, I see this stuff daily. Good luckwith the repairs and keep a look out for the vehicle that did this, it to has a ton of damage, it was a fullsizes truck that hit you if that helps (only thing tall enough to do damage that high). Make a police report and have them check the local bodyshops for recent repairs or quotes for trucks resembling thie damage incurred by this hit.
 






That 1/4 will need to be replaced to fix correctly. You can by a 1/4 used and section it in, that will be the best way to fix it. Door looks repairable and fenders are easy to hang. When I first read your description I was wondering how the bed was dented and not broken but I see now it's not a trac.
 






Agreed. The door looks repairable... From the pics. Usually with such a crease in a panel requires being replaced. The quarter needs to be replaced for sure. Be careful what shop you go with. Bigger name shops tend to do a bad job sometimes... Atleast cars I've seen around here do.
 






Thanks for the replies guys I really appreciate it. I did find out what damage is seen is the only damage done lucky. Any ideas on the back quarter and door? I wanna avoid a body shop because money is tight, unless a pro would be cheaper? The door as you can see isn't bad I just don't know how to go about it? I will probably just replace the fender and flare.

Thanks again guys
 






Thanks for the replies guys I really appreciate it. I did find out what damage is seen is the only damage done lucky. Any ideas on the back quarter and door? I wanna avoid a body shop because money is tight, unless a pro would be cheaper? The door as you can see isn't bad I just don't know how to go about it? I will probably just replace the fender and flare.

Thanks again guys

Lots of Explorers in JY/pull a part yards, so parts shouldn't be hard to find. Fender/flare can be off any Gen 2 Explorer - doesn't have to be a Sport. Not sure about the driver's door - think they are wider than the 4dr models. Quarter panel probably requires a professional to do well (I have replaced fender/flare/hood on mine, but would not attempt real body work!)
 






Back
Top