How to repair a dent?

Kingswell · Post by **Kingswell** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:22 pm

Hi all, I want to try and push out a dent on one of my rear panels but it is in an awkward place.

I just want to make it as straight as possible without filler.
Is there anyway to access it and if so what is the best way to push it out, I've never tried it before so I want to be as careful as possible so as not to ruin the panel.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:19 pm

Trying jacking the car up, taking the wheel off and see if you can reach it from underneath with a rubber mallet, obviously make sure the car is secure before you get at it.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:23 pm

Ist rule - don't use a hammer as you'll stretch the metal locally and never get rid of the marks. What you have to do is to use as little force as possible and try and push it out. Shaped dollies can be useful but so are blocks of wood etc.

Cheap dolly sets are available all over the place which may help - also included in the sets are flat faced hammers which if used properly won't stretch the metal but are probably not appropriate here.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... eating-set

sleepy0905 · Post by **sleepy0905** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:33 pm

If i remember correctly you cannot get at that area from in the wheel area as it is double skinned there and i dont think it is accessable from inside, I had a dent in the same place on the tzs and i just couldnt get at it to sort it out the only other option i thought of was a self tapper and slide hammer but that is brutal so didnt do it.

Kingswell · Post by **Kingswell** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:35 pm

How about one of those dent pullers that use suction?

sleepy0905 · Post by **sleepy0905** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:41 pm

They are only good on small dents that is too severe for a suction puller as there is a crease in the mould line where the panel changes shape.

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:03 pm

I read somewhere the other day about a system that uses a heat gun (electric, like an overgrown hairdryer) to heat the damaged area and then spray liquid nitrogen in the centre of it.
The sudden contraction causes that kind of dent to just pop out.
Small dents in places like that can be big drama due to access problems making the heat and shrink method quite viable if you can get a bit of info on it.
Apparently being used by these "painless dent removers" over here.

Alan S.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:34 pm

Why not get an expert to sort it out, surely wouldnt cost more than £50 to get that pulled out???

Terry Brooks · Post by **Terry Brooks** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:45 pm

Just try it with a dent puller ..........if it dont work,then you get it done professionally ........all it's gonna cost is time,if it does work it's cost nuffin,if it dont,then you gotta pay.........[I sorted a dent out in my S in L's AXGTi door with a sink plunger] .....I dunno who was the more surprised when it worked .....him or me

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:07 pm

Could it cause more damage if it goes wrong?

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:10 pm

Not a dent puller. Like Terry says, they're only overgrown sink plungers.

I bought mine (new) for a fiver off ebay - well worth it! It's sorted out a couple of things for me.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:29 pm

Get a body shop to do it.

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:55 pm

Wow, Alan that method sounds superb.

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:05 am

adamskibx wrote:Wow, Alan that method sounds superb.

If you ever see an old time panel beater getting rid of (car park) pimples, he does most of it with an oxy and sometimes water is sprayed onto it.
This is a more gentle way of achieving the same result without dmaging either panel or paint. Just working on basic physics.

Alan S

Terry Brooks · Post by **Terry Brooks** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:50 am

MULLEY wrote:Could it cause more damage if it goes wrong?

I doubt it ..........it's damaged now.
If it works,you've sorted it yerself.
If it dont work,take it to a bodyshop.
And if thats what you was gonna do anyway,what have you got to lose.
HTH
Terry