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Modern vehicles are being constructed with lighter and more flexible materials. On one hand lighter
construction has made some aspects of the repair process easier because of the quick replacement process.
On the other hand, because of the lighter materials, vehicles are more susceptible to damage on impact at lower speeds.
A distinction should be made between the term "repair" and "replace". These two terms involve separate processes.
If a body component has been completely mangled, it will simply be "replaced". This is the easiest type of
body work since the process involved is simply purchasing the part, installation, and painting.
"Repair" work may involve pounding out a dent if it is simple, or it may involve straightening the frame
which is the most extensive and complex type of body work.
With the advent of unibody construction, the repair process has been made even more complex.
In the older domestic vehicles, components were bolted to a frame which acted as the support for
vehicle road shock. In unibody construction, the components act as the frame. If a unibody vehicle
has been damaged, simply replacing the component may not be enough to restore the vehicle. Other
components must be checked to determine if they have been shifted from the original positions,
Failure to do a proper alignment is often the cause of a vehicle "not feeling the same" after a collision.
Another change is the safety concept of "energy absorption." Essentially, this allows the
body to absorb a higher percentage of the impact from a high speed collision. This also means
that the body collapses more easily. Again, this makes the vehicle more susceptible to damage
at lower speed impact as well.
In the sections to follow, the term "repair" refers to either the repair or
replacement process unless another specific distinction is made.
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