QuestionQUESTION: Hi Bill, Thanks for your help in advance. Yesterday backed my '03 Corolla into a tree trunk. The rear driver side got pushed in all the way (the crumple zone, I guess) and is now pushing against the back tire.
Question: would this be a frame damage for this vehicle? I am concerned about it's stability after it gets fixed - if it is a frame damage. Looking in the trunk, it is all crunched up on the bottom left side. Thank you again. Rgds, Al Casey
ANSWER: Al, it sounds like you have MASH damage to left rear floor and rail . good news is may not have hurt suspension . 2 choices 1:take to a body shop have them pull rail to make safe to drive[emergency repairs] or 2 spend the big bucks for the complete repair. HTH. Bill
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QUESTION: Hi Bill, Thanks very much for expert advice on the possible cause and suggested remedies. Can you please advise if a MASH damage has anything to do with the frame itself? I am not sure how these newer cars do with frame damage in such cases. Thanks again. Rgds, Al
AnswerAl, your Corolla has a uni-body design. Body and frame are one welded together unit. There is no seperate 'frame' . Any structural damage can be called frame damage. Besides the sheet metal body there are heavy metal rails that are welded to lighter panels and create the uni-body structure which support things like: bumpers.fuel tanks,suspension, drivetrain .... hth Bill
