Frame or no frame?

[Missy]

So as some of you may know my car was rear ended and pushed into another car. Luckily my dad is taking care of it for me because I have little to no clue what I'd need to do! On to the question, we wanted to make sure there was absolutely no frame damage and that the people fixing it weren't just saying it was ok, well today they told my dad that the car doesn't have a frame it's a unibody and there's nothing you can do about it if something's wrong with it. Understandable but isn't the frame of a car pretty much the same thing? This guy was trying to say it's totally different so I'm kinda confused.. Should I be worried about anything here?

Just an overly worried owner I spose.

[Exhaust]

A frame is where the body of the car sits on a frame (easier to draw than to explain IMO). A unibody is built into the vehicle, with welds, pillars etc. They are two separate things. Its very hard to understand your post, but if anything I think your dad is trying to get your alignment checked out or verified not the frame. He may have been explaining it wrong and the mechanic was just being a egotistical know it all.

[355rockit]

Originally Posted by Missy

So as some of you may know my car was rear ended and pushed into another car. Luckily my dad is taking care of it for me because I have little to no clue what I'd need to do! On to the question, we wanted to make sure there was absolutely no frame damage and that the people fixing it weren't just saying it was ok, well today they told my dad that the car doesn't have a frame it's a unibody and there's nothing you can do about it if something's wrong with it. Understandable but isn't the frame of a car pretty much the same thing? This guy was trying to say it's totally different so I'm kinda confused.. Should I be worried about anything here?

Just an overly worried owner I spose.

The unibody unlike frame-rails on older cars and trucks that if bent can be straightened. If a unibody vehicle has structural damage, it cannot be repaired and will reduce the safety integrity of the unibody structure if repair is attempted such that if the unibody gets hit again, it may cause severe injuries to the occupants due to a weak point in the frame structure. The body and chassis are an integrated unit in a unibody architecture.

[ZionsWrath]

If you want to understand, search these 2 terms

unibody construction

body on frame

[Bach415]

Here's a simple explanation of the difference: http://www.carfax.com/car_buying/car_frames.cfx

Unibody is the first one. Frame is the second one. Frame is like those rc cars where you put a shell over it.

[ZionsWrath]

Originally Posted by Bach415

Here's a simple explanation of the difference: http://www.carfax.com/car_buying/car_frames.cfx

Unibody is the first one. Frame is the second one. Frame is like those rc cars where you put a shell over it.

I think most unibody now don't even have that much "frame" these days. Most have a front and rear subframe not that whole thing pictured

[Missy]

That's kinda scary.. Well I sure as hell hope they aren't lying about it not being damaged.

[mav1178]

For purposes of context:

Most bodyshops refer to "frame damage" when they should call it "unibody damage".

Frame damage (in this context) is really just damage to the unibody, and whether they total the car or not is determined by if the damage is beyond repair (or at least beyond cost of what insurance is willing to pay).

-alex

[Missy]

Originally Posted by Exhaust

A frame is where the body of the car sits on a frame (easier to draw than to explain IMO). A unibody is built into the vehicle, with welds, pillars etc. They are two separate things. Its very hard to understand your post, but if anything I think your dad is trying to get your alignment checked out or verified not the frame. He may have been explaining it wrong and the mechanic was just being a egotistical know it all.

Yea I'm pretty confusing when I'm confused myself, sorry guys. Anyway he was infact asking about the frame because that's the extent of my dads knowledge on vehicles. If the frames fucked you're fucked, he got confused by the unibody talk. Then confused me.

[whaap]

Think of a frame as two long metal bars running front to rear with welded cross members. Think of a unibody as a box with two horns sticking out in front and two in the back. Over simplified but that should give you the idea. Also, keep in mind that anything can be repaired. It's just a matter of the cost determining if it's worth it or not.

[Dezoris]

Pics of said damage would help.

[trekkie]

Insurance adjuster should check for frame/unibody damage. If that happens they usually total it.

Based on the earlier thread and the damage you posted I'd be surprised if it happened. Those things are fairly hard. It usually takes an offset crash (t bone) to do that damage. Makes a V out of the car

[Bach415]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I think most unibody now don't even have that much "frame" these days. Most have a front and rear subframe not that whole thing pictured

True. But she's just asking what's the difference and that pretty much sums it up in a short answer.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by whaap

Think of a frame as two long metal bars running front to rear with welded cross members. Think of a unibody as a box with two horns sticking out in front and two in the back. Over simplified but that should give you the idea. Also, keep in mind that anything can be repaired. It's just a matter of the cost determining if it's worth it or not.

Or to elaborate, in automotive terms:

A frame is the main load-bearing structure of a vehicle, i.e. many body-on-frame SUVs/trucks, etc

Unibody is different in the sense that the car's exterior skin (as well as the underlying "frame") serves as a load-bearing structure. It is lighter and safer than a frame design, as crumple zones can be built in to the structure.

The key difference is, unibody usually is whatever shape the body is, minus the front/rear bumper, front fenders, and hood/trunk. A frame looks like a flat picture frame with ends sticking out of it.

The bodyshop (and OP's dad) should be asking for unibody damage (and the extent of it), nothing more.

-alex