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Frame Repair & Frame Straightening in Los Angeles
Car pulls or the panels don't line up after a crash? We measure the frame against factory specs, straighten it on a frame bench or replace what can't be saved.
- written estimate
- Free
- warranty on repairs
- Lifetime
- Google rating
- 4.9★
Frame Repair
What Frame Damage Means on a Modern Car
Trucks and some large SUVs are built on a separate ladder frame. Most cars and crossovers have a unibody, where the floor, pillars, rails and roof together form the structure. In both cases this structure decides how the car absorbs a crash, how the doors and panels line up, and how the wheels point down the road.
When a collision moves that structure even a few millimeters, the effects show up everywhere: doors that don't close cleanly, uneven gaps around the hood and trunk, a car that pulls to one side, tires wearing unevenly, or wind noise that wasn't there before. More importantly, a structure that has not been put back to specification will not protect you the way it was designed to in the next accident.
- Uneven gaps between the hood, fenders, doors or trunk
- Doors or trunk that are hard to close or don't latch
- The car pulls or the steering wheel is off-center after the accident
- Rapid or uneven tire wear
- Creases or ripples in the floor, rails or pillars
How We Measure the Damage
Frame repair starts with measurement, not with a guess. With the car on the frame bench, reference points on the structure are measured and compared with the manufacturer's dimensions for that model. The measurement shows exactly which points have moved, in which direction and how far, and it becomes part of the documentation we send to your insurance company.
Measuring before the repair also finds damage that is not visible: a rear-end hit that pushed the trunk floor forward, or a front hit that moved the radiator support and the front rails behind a bumper that looks almost fine.
Straightening and Structural Parts Replacement
On the frame bench the structure is anchored and pulled back toward its original dimensions in controlled steps, measuring as we go, until every reference point is back within specification. Pulls are done in the reverse direction of the impact and in small increments so the metal returns to shape without new stress.
Some parts should not be straightened. Manufacturers specify which structural parts must be replaced after a collision, for example kinked rails or high-strength steel and aluminum components that lose strength when they are bent back. Those parts are cut out and replaced following the manufacturer's repair procedures. Once the structure is correct, the outer panels are fitted, gaps are set, and the car goes to our paint shop for refinishing.
Step by step
How a Frame Repair Works
- 01
Tow to our shop (free for collision clients) and an initial inspection
- 02
Teardown of damaged panels and measurement of the structure against factory dimensions
- 03
Estimate and photo documentation sent to your insurer, supplements for hidden damage
- 04
Straightening on the frame bench and replacement of parts that must not be straightened
- 05
Outer panels fitted, gaps set, body work, color-matched paint and blending
- 06
Wheel alignment check, road test and final inspection
Frame Damage, Insurance and Total Loss
Frame damage makes a claim more expensive, and insurers look closely at it. If repair costs approach roughly 75–80% of the car's actual cash value, the insurer may declare it a total loss. When the car is repairable, we document the measurements and hidden damage with photos and submit supplements so the structural work is paid for and not skipped.
If the other driver was at fault, their insurer pays for the repair, and in California you may also be able to recover the car's lost market value with a diminished value claim. Your insurer cannot require its own network shop, so the car can stay with us from the tow to the finished repair; read how we handle the claim.
Pricing
Timeline and Cost
Moderate structural damage that needs frame straightening typically takes 5–10 days, depending on parts and on how many panels also need body work and paint. The ranges below are typical Los Angeles market prices from our collision repair cost guide. The exact scope and price are in your written estimate, and for an accident the repair is normally paid by insurance.
| Repair | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Frame straightening (mild)Frame bench and computerized measurement | $500–$1,500 |
| Radiator support and front clip repair | $1,000–$3,500 |
| Rear-end collision with frame damageTrunk floor, frame rails and suspension often involved | $2,500–$7,000+ |
| Quarter panel repair or replacement | $800–$2,500 |
Get a free estimate
Call or text (213) 282-8201, or send us the details online. Accident line and towing 24/7.
- Leti Auto Works
- 794 Merchant St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
- Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
- Get directions
- Shop hours
- Monday – Friday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- SundayClosed
- Accident line and towing answer 24/7.
Frame Repair — common questions
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Call (213) 282-8201How do I know if my car has frame damage?
Common signs are uneven gaps around the hood, doors or trunk, doors that are hard to close, a car that pulls to one side or an off-center steering wheel after the accident, and uneven tire wear. The only reliable way to know is to measure the structure against factory dimensions, which we do during the inspection.
Is a car with frame damage safe after repair?
When the structure is measured, straightened back to factory specifications and the parts that must be replaced are replaced following the manufacturer's procedures, the car can be returned to safe, pre-accident condition. That is why the measurement before and after the repair matters.
Does frame damage mean my car is totaled?
Not necessarily. Many cars with frame damage are repaired. Insurers declare a total loss when repair costs approach roughly 75–80% of the car's actual cash value, which depends on the car's value as much as on the damage.
How long does frame repair take?
Moderate structural damage that needs frame straightening typically takes 5–10 days. Waiting for structural parts and insurance supplements can add time; we give you a written timeline and keep you updated.
Will my insurance pay for frame repair?
Structural damage from a covered accident is part of the collision repair and is paid by the at-fault driver's insurer or by your collision coverage minus your deductible. We document the measurements and send supplements so the structural work is approved.
Is frame repair covered by your warranty?
Yes. Our lifetime warranty on collision repairs, valid for as long as you own the vehicle, covers structural integrity and panel alignment as well as paint.
Leti Auto Works repairs frame and structural damage after accidents at our body shop at 794 Merchant St in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. We measure the frame or unibody against factory specifications, straighten it on a frame bench and replace structural parts that can't be safely straightened. Towing from the accident scene is free for collision clients, and we handle the insurance claim.
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