volkswagen Body repair in Espoo

​What is Body Repair?

​​The car body is its visible outer part, consisting of a metal covering attached to a strong load-bearing frame. It is the external shell that houses the cabin, engine, and other parts of the car. Car body repair involves a series of procedures aimed at removing dents, rust spots, tears, and other damages, as well as restoring the geometry according to factory specifications. The scope of repair work, techniques, and materials used depend on the condition of the body, as well as the make and model of the car and its structural features.

You can contact us for any body repair services after an accident for your Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat, or Cupra.

We use our partner Espoonkolarikorjaamo to carry out this type of work.

We are accredited by insurance companies to perform such work.

​Types of Body Repair

​Depending on the amount and nature of the damage, as well as other factors, the following types of repairs are distinguished:

• ​Cosmetic: Performed without disassembling body elements. The service includes the removal of chips, corrosion spots, scratches, roughness, and other cosmetic defects.
• Local: A specific element (fender, door, etc.) is repaired or replaced.
  
• Straightening: Involves leveling the surface to remove dents and other deformations. Special tools are used: supports, straightening hammers, fixing mechanisms.
• Geometry Restoration: A complex and lengthy process performed after serious traffic accidents. Special equipment—jigs—is used to pull deformed structures to factory control points.
• Major: Carried out for extensive damage obtained both in traffic accidents and for other reasons (e.g., due to heavy corrosion). A range of different works is performed, the list of which depends on the structure and condition of the body.

​Welding work is often used in body repair, for example, to restore corroded thresholds and in other cases.

​Stages of Body Repair

​​Initially, diagnostics are performed through visual inspection and comprehensive testing using appropriate equipment.

Subsequent stages include:

• ​Restoring gaps and body geometry.
• Replacing irreparably damaged parts.
• Welding structures.
• Removing dents and cosmetic defects.
• Final stages—painting, drying, polishing.

​What Does Car Body Repair Include?

​Body restoration is a comprehensive service consisting of a whole range of works and procedures. The appearance of the car and driving safety depend on how professionally and qualitatively they are performed.

Some body defects may not be obvious. Therefore, an essential initial stage of car body restoration is diagnostics. It reveals visible and hidden damages, their degree, nature, and other potentially vulnerable spots.

Based on the diagnostics results, a list of repair and restoration activities is determined, and a decision is made regarding the necessary spare parts and consumables.

Then the repair begins. Specialists dismantle the damaged parts, and if restoration is not possible, they are replaced. Straightening, machining, welding, filling, and other necessary works are performed. Quality control is ensured at each stage.

Complete or partial painting is carried out. In the latter case, pre-selected computer paint is used.

At the customer's request, additional work is performed, including polishing, applying anti-corrosion coating, and varnishing.

​Trunk Lid Repair

​​This part is often damaged in traffic accidents. Therefore, it is important to understand in body repair that this is one of the most requested services. It is especially relevant for station wagons.

Many damages can be removed without disassembling the part. But even if it needs to be removed, restoration is almost always cheaper compared to purchasing and installing a new trunk lid. However, in some cases, replacement is necessary. This applies to situations where the part is heavily damaged, for example, with deformation of the stiffening ribs.

A common malfunction is the jamming of the trunk lock. This happens even after minor collisions in traffic accidents. If the lock grooves are intact, the internal part of the mechanism is replaced. In case of severe damage, the lock is replaced entirely.

Deformations are removed by straightening or filling. Sometimes both procedures are used. Final stages—priming, painting, drying at the specified temperature.

​Restoring Body Geometry

​This is a high-tech and responsible stage. Violation of body geometry leads to imbalance. An invisible tilt to the eye is a common cause of skidding during emergency braking and driving at speeds over 90 km/h. Also, an unbalanced body accelerates the wear of chassis components by 2-3 times.

Body geometry is restored on jigs. This equipment pulls deformed elements (pillars, supports, frame, body) in three dimensions. The process is monitored by a computer, which has factory control points programmed. The margin of error in geometry restoration does not exceed 0.5 mm, so the repaired load-bearing elements are indistinguishable from the original.

Simultaneously with the pulling of structures, welding work is performed. They are necessary to restore the strength of load-bearing elements, as well as to eliminate cracks and tears in the metal.

After the restoration work is completed, the body is sent again for control measurements and computer diagnostics.

Geometry restoration is a labor-intensive and lengthy process, but it is cheaper compared to acquiring a new body.

​Straightening

​This is one of the most popular body works. It restores the original appearance of deformed parts. There are three straightening technologies:

• ​Vacuum: The optimal option for small (up to 10 cm) dents. The damage is removed using a vacuum suction cup and a screw mechanism. When the technology is followed, no traces remain.
• Hook: Medium-sized damages are removed. The part is drilled, a hook is inserted into the hole. It serves as a grip, with which the dent is pulled out until it disappears completely. Then the hole is filled with putty, and the fragment is painted.
• Tapping: This classic technology is suitable for removing large damages. The part is dismantled, then leveled with a special straightening hammer using other tools, including an anvil. If necessary, the part is heated, but it is important to ensure that the metal structure remains unchanged.

​​Numerous nuances need to be known when performing straightening. Therefore, this procedure must be carried out at a car service.

Body repair should be performed by specialized professionals. Modern equipment, as well as knowledge and experience in performing such work, are necessary. Independent attempts will worsen the situation, after which damage elimination will be more expensive and take more time.

Call or write to us at Volkkarihuolto for help in repairing your Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat, or Cupra.