The great thing about PDR or paintless dent removal is this method of repair can fix many types of car dents. And it is also considered as the quickest and most practical form of repair for restoring the car’s body back into its original shape.
However, like any other fixes, PDR also has its limitations in repairing car dents. And knowing these situations will keep you informed when to forego PDR as an option and opt for another repair process instead.
So what are the limitations of paintless dent removal (PDR)? Read more as we’ll go through the details of this topic in today’s post.
When Is PDR Not A Viable Option
While paintless dent removal is a good and reliable solution for fixing most dent issues, this process is not a feasible choice under these circumstances:
Chipped Or Scratched Paint – Any cracked, chipped, or scratched paint on your car exceeds the scope of PDR since it can only fix issues that do not involve paint damage. But in some cases, like if a hail dent exposes the metal underneath the paint, the PDR method may be applicable in this situation to restore the shape of the metal but repainting the affected area is still necessary.
On the other hand, paint scratches can’t be repaired with PDR since the metal is not dented. It only needs an expert reassessment to determine the depth of the scratch before repainting.
Dent Accessibility – If the location of the dent is inaccessible, then PDR may not be a practical way of repairing the imperfection. That’s because PDR technicians use specialized tools to push the dent from the backside of the frame while pulling the dent using strong adhesives like glue sticks from the outside.
So if the dent is tough to access, the only choice is to have it fixed using traditional repair methods.
Dents On Non-Metal Areas Of The Vehicle – Paintless dent removal is only effective on the metal body of your car. And it can repair dent issues on non-metal areas like the fenders and plastic bumpers as they have to be repaired through the traditional process of auto body restoration.
Structural Damage – If the panel of your car is severely damaged, or if the car has suffered deep cuts or creases, then PDR will not do any good in fixing these issues.
Hail dents, fender benders, and light collisions are ideal candidates for paintless dent removal, but any problems involving extensive wrecks will require auto body panel replacement or a complete overhaul.
Also, PDR is not recommended for fixing dents with torn metal and protruding sharp edges.
Aluminum Dent Repair – Some auto repair shops with PDR service are quite hesitant with fixing dents on aluminum body panels because this type of metal is lighter and more flexible than steel, which increases the possibility of paint cracking if the aluminum stretches, especially if the repair is done by an inexperienced technician.
Fortunately, not all PDR companies are the same for repair shops like Hail Free Solutions Denver is experienced in dent removal of aluminum panels.
Although the process takes more time to complete, the results will still be the same. And your car will look just as new as if the dents were not there before.