Quarter panel pushed in

What to do to keep your car looking and running like new, inside and out.
Post Reply
WA1DH
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:14 pm
Cars: 99 Ford Escort
Location: Seekonk, MA
Contact:

Quarter panel pushed in

Post by WA1DH »

I park only on end spaces in the lot at work so I don't get doored by other people. My car was virtually dent free (as when I got it), until yesterday. Apparently someone, somehow, managed to either drive or back into my car. I still can't figure out what they were trying to do (turn around? talk on the cell phone, put makeup on, and drive at the same time?) but they managed to push my right rear quarter panel in with their bumper, just ahead/under my tail light. The pushed-in spot is rectangular (ie. like a bumper corner) about 8 in wide by 5-6 in tall. I had access to the back of the panel from the trunk so I pushed most of it out with a rubber mallet, but it is still kind of wavy and uneven. I'm wondering if there is something I can buy to fix this? If there was something strong enough to somehow roll over the metal from the inside it might straighten it out (I think?). No pictures at the moment, I'll try to get one up when I get a chance.

Here's a link to a photo I took when I got the car. The spot starts just under the middle-right of the tail light and extends forward about 8".
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2811425 ... host=rides
User avatar
theholycow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 16021
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
Location: Glocester, RI
Contact:

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by theholycow »

Things you can buy to help:
1. Professional work
2. A replacement piece
3. Bondo and paint
4. Proper auto body tools where you hold a heavy "dolly" on one side and whack with the mallet on the other side
5. Increased insurance rates after making a claim
6. Photo hosting that doesn't suck (wait, no money is required for that one)
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT

Put your car in your sig!

Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
WA1DH
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:14 pm
Cars: 99 Ford Escort
Location: Seekonk, MA
Contact:

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by WA1DH »

thc: I was thinking along the lines of #4. My dad happens to have an auto body hammer (the flat kind), so I figure I'll either get a dolly or just find an old encyclopedia or other big, hardcover book to hold on the opposite side :P

As far as photo hosting.. I'm in the process of migrating away from Webshots and over to a gallery hosted on my own site. Here are some pics of the dent (after it was hammered back), hosted on my site: http://www.photos.douglasharrington.com/v/escort_dent/
User avatar
theholycow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 16021
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
Location: Glocester, RI
Contact:

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by theholycow »

It's pretty unlikely that you'll hammer it into shape. The metal is stretched, but not severely.
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT

Put your car in your sig!

Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
Rope-Pusher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 11607
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
Location: Greater Detroit Area

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by Rope-Pusher »

Replace it - quarter panels are cheap. That's how they got that name.
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
User avatar
Bawked
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2417
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:24 am
Cars: 08 JDM Subaru Impreza STI
Location: New Zealand

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by Bawked »

Rope-Pusher wrote:Replace it - quarter panels are cheap. That's how they got that name.
please tell me where you can get them for a quarter :)
<3 fwd
WA1DH
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:14 pm
Cars: 99 Ford Escort
Location: Seekonk, MA
Contact:

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by WA1DH »

Rope-Pusher wrote:Replace it - quarter panels are cheap. That's how they got that name.
Not happening.. I'd have to cut the panel out and weld a new one in. If it came off like a fender it wouldn't be a big deal. I might just bondo and paint it next year, as the rest of the car could use a paint job anyway.
Rope-Pusher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 11607
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
Location: Greater Detroit Area

Re: Quarter panel pushed in

Post by Rope-Pusher »

Bawked wrote:
Rope-Pusher wrote:Replace it - quarter panels are cheap. That's how they got that name.
please tell me where you can get them for a quarter :)
I could get you several if you'd pay me a quarter million dollars.

The real problem is that they are a pane in the asp to R&R. Probably not worth the effort unless it has cancer or someone else is paying for it.
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
Post Reply