Hail Damage

[karter42]

Well my worst nightmare came true the other day, after 26 years of managing to avoid Hail, the SS got hammered last Thursday.

Heaps of dents but not too deep and none seem to have creased the metal work.

I am booked into the smash repairers who say there is a guy who does dent removal with out the need of re-spraying. Has anyone seen this proccess? and is it effective?

Ta in advance.

DP.

[VooDoo]

I had a VS hammered with hail (over 150 hits) inc smashed tail lights (front of car was under cover)

I had paintless dent removal done against my wishes but the insurance company promised a respray if i wasnt happy. When i got the car back i was amazed to see it was perfect and i couldnt fault it at all. No cracks in the paintwork or any problems with it over the following 2 years.

[karter42]

Thanks VooDoo, I will relax now knowing that its not a problem

[HSVREDSLED]

karter,

you are talking to the hail king!

Just about every car I have owned has been peppered by hail. Relax about paintless dent repair (PDR). If you get a good one, (repairer) they are masters at their craft. The really good ones are sought after around the world and are flown around the globe following the hailstorms.

[BlueVZSS]

I had a previous car absolutely hammered by hail. Every panel was badly dented. It even broke the windscreen, headlights and plastic bonnet protector. In my case they replaced the bonnet and and bootlid and repaired the rest of the panel using paintless dent removal. When it was repaired you wouldn't know it had happened. I know that it is very dissapointing when this happens to your pride and joy but you needn't worry about the outcome if you get someone skilled. They are very good at what they do.

[karter42]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I can now back away from the carton of 750ml bottles of JD I had to buy to drown my sorrows. They reckon this guy is a guru so all's good.

[Ryzz]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I can now back away from the carton of 750ml bottles of JD I had to buy to drown my sorrows. They reckon this guy is a guru so all's good.I'm sure if this guys is even half as good as the other guru's out there you will be stocked!!!

Good luck mate, sorry to hear about the hail!!

[wrexed03]

Just a tip go for the dent removers. Dec 2003 my AU got hammered every panel nice and hard. Car was repainted. Car was never the same. Turned out really crap. Interior was gutted before the paint work door locks removed and then when i received it passenger door issues not closing or not opening at random times. Some trims had cuts in them and scratches. Air bag light was on cables cut on seat belt pre tensioner. Lots of overspray and other faults in paintwork. Car was of the road for 6 weeks. I went spastic. Insurance came out and said car has to be repainted. I said no way not again then they agreed to right it off.. :D . Bottom line go for the dent removers. Try to avoid getting it re painted if possible.

[BlackClubbie]

Hey one Question,

How do they do the paintless dent removal, just out of interest ?
I had a few dents that were hardly visible to the public eye ( but not to mine ) removed like that, and it looks as if it was never there.

[VFast]

Just a tip go for the dent removers. Dec 2003 my AU got hammered every panel nice and hard. Car was repainted. Car was never the same. Turned out really crap. Interior was gutted before the paint work door locks removed and then when i received it passenger door issues not closing or not opening at random times. Some trims had cuts in them and scratches. Air bag light was on cables cut on seat belt pre tensioner. Lots of overspray and other faults in paintwork. Car was of the road for 6 weeks. I went spastic. Insurance came out and said car has to be repainted. I said no way not again then they agreed to right it off.. :D . Bottom line go for the dent removers. Try to avoid getting it re painted if possible.

I am sure that the dent removal blokes will still need to get access to the other side of the panel, and this means removing door trims etc...

Obviously you won't have the overspray or electrical issues, but they will still need access, but this is not a problem if they use common sense and carefully handle your trims etc...

It really pisses you off when some workshops out there spoil it for the rest when they don't give a toss about peoples pride and joy :(

[VFast]

Hey one Question,

How do they do the paintless dent removal, just out of interest ?
I had a few dents that were hardly visible to the public eye ( but not to mine ) removed like that, and it looks as if it was never there.

Apparently they get behind the dent, and utilise a myriad of different shaped tools to "ease" or "push" the dents out...

However they can only work on the dents where they have access behind them, so I think they have trouble in some places like C pillars etc...

[HSVREDSLED]

Apparently they get behind the dent, and utilise a myriad of different shaped tools to "ease" or "push" the dents out...

However they can only work on the dents where they have access behind them, so I think they have trouble in some places like C pillars etc...


Correct. there are not that many places they cant get out, but some are much easier than the others.

PS. They are very skilled in their craft. I have a few buddies in the smash repair trade who said they have tried their hand at it, but they are not delicate/skillful enough for the job...so they leave it to the pros.

[karter42]

Just a heads up to anyone who is thinking of having paintless dent removal.
My ride was done today and I cannot beleive it, perfect! (even one that was not caused by hail perhaps, removed...)

Yep, as HSVREDSLED and VooDoo say, these guys are masters of the craft. Old mate in the panel shop said this is his 30th year in the industry and still cannot get a grip on how skilled they are.

Needless to say, I am more than happy with it.

[Elite SS]

Just a heads up to anyone who is thinking of having paintless dent removal.
My ride was done today and I cannot beleive it, perfect! (even one that was not caused by hail perhaps, removed...)

Yep, as HSVREDSLED and VooDoo say, these guys are masters of the craft. Old mate in the panel shop said this is his 30th year in the industry and still cannot get a grip on how skilled they are.

Needless to say, I am more than happy with it.

I'm glad your happy, now make me happier and give us the guys name and Number, Ihave 3 on my bonnet, one on each guard and one on my roof, the funny thing is that my hail damage was done two days after it hailed....
Someone up there doesn't like me..

[Oldmonroman]

I had a VS hammered with hail (over 150 hits) inc smashed tail lights (front of car was under cover)

I had paintless dent removal done against my wishes but the insurance company promised a respray if i wasnt happy. When i got the car back i was amazed to see it was perfect and i couldnt fault it at all. No cracks in the paintwork or any problems with it over the following 2 years.

Just a matter of interest what would it cost you to remove so many dints like that.

[cosmo vyss]

Ok guys,
My car had a heap of hail damage done to it last year. i had a paintless dent removal company do the job an the dent removal was fantastic you would never know it had hail damage. The average pdr company charges approx 120 bills per dent and the cost may vary a little bit due to size. The company that did mine charged 120 each for a size of a 50 piece dent, obviously its less for a smaller ding and more for a bigger one.

Some key points here:

1.Ensure they are reputable and have alot of experience.
2. They will have to remove trims and roof cover and other internal parts. Ensure before leaving that you have checked that all fitting are on and are functioning correctly. Look for things that may be a tad loose as well.
3. They do use some abrasive tools that can damage and scratch your paintwork. Check your paintwork b4 leaving. (Mine had a few minor surface scratches and marks on it, a good polish sorted them out). Insurance had a detailer do this.
4. Ensure panels such as the bonnet and roof are re-fitted correctly and line up etc.

Apart from these few things, these guys are professionals and they are exceptional at what they do.
Its not all doom and gloom, just a pain to have your pride and joy off the road for a few days whilst its getting done.
goodluck with it all
jb

[VooDoo]

I had a small dent removed from the caprice, $80. You cant see where it was.

(tip: dont press your hand on the top of the front fender to show someone how hard the new suspension is, you will dent the guard)

[Ryzz]

I had a dent pulled out of the GTS under the back driver quater window (before the rear window). The smash repairer said to me "Yeah he came up good, but he was only able to get about 95% of the dent out".

Ive spent hours with all differents lights and angles trying to see this remaining 5% and its perfect as far as i can tell.

My old man has an EJ and the front crome grills are IMPOSSIBLE to get without dents in them. He found some retired panel beater that rolls them by hand and gets the dents out. This guy was a genious and the grill strips came back better than new as well!!

[karter42]

I had a dent pulled out of the GTS under the back driver quater window (before the rear window). The smash repairer said to me "Yeah he came up good, but he was only able to get about 95% of the dent out".

Ive spent hours with all differents lights and angles trying to see this remaining 5% and its perfect as far as i can tell.

My old man has an EJ and the front crome grills are IMPOSSIBLE to get without dents in them. He found some retired panel beater that rolls them by hand and gets the dents out. This guy was a genious and the grill strips came back better than new as well!!

Ryzz,

Excellent! I didnt think about the grills on the old girls, I have an FB project and was wondering about the couple of small dents in the grill and rear bar.

Old matey will get sick of seeing me......

[kryten2001]

Just watch out for the sharks (get references if you can!)

When I got my brand new SS last year, it had a tiny dent on the front passengers guard. The dude they sent out to fix it was a shocker.. He fixed the dent ok, but to get to it he wrenched the guard off underneath the wheel arch like it was a can of beans.

Tapped it back together with a hammer later, but the underside of the guard (not something you can see by giving it a cursory look), was rippled and all the paint ripped off. Very unhappy Jan..... The dealers response - Looks ok to us, you're being to critical.

So just beware. The dude did a great job on the dent, but made more of a mess getting to it. Keep an eye on em, when they're doing it..

He made the excuse that it was the only way to get to the dent, turns out though - you can come in through the front of the guard without any problems...... So yeah, get one with experience with your car..

[missdee]

does anyone have a name or two of a good dent repairer in brissy for hail damage to roof and bonnet.bonnet can be replaced easily enough, mainly roof
cheers

[HOTSV8]

Holy thread mining batman ......


But no , i don't know of any . I would guess voodoo would know who to do to you :confused: