PDR PROCEDURE

This page is designed as a guideline to educate technicians, adjusters, body shops and the general public on which procedures could be required to perform proper PDR repairs on a vehicle. This page does not state that all procedures listed must be required at all times but instead gives insight to the procedures that may need be required and should always be considered when requested by the technician repairing the vehicle.

VEHICLE CONDITION:

Estimate should be completed on a cleaned vehicle, indoors, and using professional PDR lighting equipment.

DETERMINING DENT SIZE:

When using the sizing coin/magnet, the edges of the dent must be inclusive of the size of the measured circles to be considered that specific size. If the edges of the dent damage exceed the size of the circle on the magnet, then the dent is counted as being the next size up and will not be estimated at the size down or smaller than the actual damage. The affected area is to be determined by the PDR Technician and may include surface area greater than that of the measured indentation.

DETERMINING DOUBLE PANEL AND/OR HEAVILY BRACED PANELS:

The vehicle will first be inspected to determine access difficulty. This should not be limited to roof rails, doors, and deck lids. This includes areas that are not typically involved in the discussion of double paneled areas. Front of hoods, tops of doors, door area underneath belt molding, quarter panels at front, and deck lids are often heavily braced. A panel is considered a heavily braced / and or a double panel when there is little to no direct access to the damaged area.

SPECIAL CAUTIONS:

Details of this guide are subject to the specifics of each situation. It is understood that no two dents, storms, or technicians are alike and should be evaluated on an individual basis. This includes but is not limited to variance in repair location, damage specific to each storm, previous damage to the location of current repair, and more. All claims should be assessed individually.

ESTIMATING EXPLANATION:

The necessities of the following procedures should be left to the discretion of the servicing PDR technician. The noted procedures may be needed to gain access to any damaged areas for the dent removal process to begin. Proper R&I techniques shall be used according to manufacturer’s specs. It is understood that the listed items below do not include: Dent removal, cleaning or preparing the panel, or circling/highlighting the damage for estimating purposes.


The finish of the vehicle is of vital importance in consideration of PDR as a viable method of repair. To obtain the desired end result of a quality PDR repair, paint must be in good condition. Factors that may prohibit complete auto-body factory condition restoration include (but are not limited to):


  • Wax/paint sealer removal
  • Wax/paint sealer reapplication
  • Matte finish
  • Vehicle wraps
  • Stripes, decals, transfers or overlays
  • Non factory paint
  • Damaged/checked paint
  • Rock chips
  • Previous damage unrelated to storm event
  • In high winds, some damage may be caused by storm debris such as broken branches from nearby trees, solid objects being carried by high winds, etc

REMOVE & INSTALL PROCEDURES FOR HAIL DAMAGE REPAIR USING PDR METHOD:

R&I of any obstruction to enable visibility of repair area, on any vehicle, deemed necessary by a qualified technician, in order to gain access and/or leverage on the backside of the damaged area may incur additional expense.

Basic required PDR procedures:

  • Lifting of the vehicle when needed to see, gain access, or perform the repair
  • R&I of any obstruction, on any vehicle, deemed necessary by the repairing technician, in order to gain access and/or leverage on the backside of the damaged area
  • Preparation of vehicle including but not limited to: removal of dirt/snow/ice, etc.
  • Light buffing if needed to see the damage and repair it correctly
  • Tall vehicles
  • Panels with laminated glass
  • R&I of aftermarket items
  • Areas of vehicle paneling with ribbon sealer
  • PCM/BCM reset, ABS, taillights, window memory and power liftgate, etc.
  • R&R pinstripe, vinyl decals, stripes, clear bra
  • Corrosion protection
  • Paint sealer, wax
  • Extended roof
  • Roof rail / glue pulling
  • Sound deadening, panel stiffening
  • Panel to bracing glue
  • Hood and hood clips
  • Weatherstrip clips
  • Fender
  • Wheel opening molding clips
  • Door
  • Quarter panel
  • Cab corner
  • Liftgate / Decklid
  • Cowl panel
  • Glue pulling materials and labor upcharge for glue pulling
  • Refinishing undersides of painted panels where soft tipping is not an option

Glass

Back glass on trucks should be considered for removal if any of the following criteria is met:


  • Glass is a single pane
  • Sliding glass window does not provide adequate access for a complete and proper repair
  • Vehicle has a ribbed roof

Paint

  • Wax/paint sealer removal
  • Wax/paint reapplication
  • Matte finish
  • Non factory paint
  • Damaged/checked paint
  • Replacing corrosion protection

Metal

  • High Strength Steel
  • Ultra High Strength Steel
  • Aluminum
  • Extra thin metal
  • Aftermarket panels
  • Panels with prior conventional repairs or repainted panels

The following R&I in the Included Operations sections should be considered standard operation needed for proper repair. The items listed in the Not Included Operations sections should not be considered standard and will be evaluated for additional cost.

HOOD:

To allow access for repair, the following items may need to be removed from the vehicle:


  • Hood insulator pad
  • Removing and securing the panel in a workable position
  • Replacing the panel to original position on vehicle upon completion of repair
  • Hood scoops
  • Air deflector, bug guard
  • Clear bra
  • Grill
  • Hood moldings,trim pieces
  • Washer nozzles
  • Weatherstrip

FRONT FENDER:

  • Fender liners
  • Headlamps – Some vehicles require the front bumper to be removed to gain access to the headlamp anchor points for a full removal
  • Grill
  • Clear bra
  • Plow frame
  • Bumper guard
  • Side marker light
  • Air intake housing
  • Windshield cowl
  • Hood hinges
  • Deflectors / trim pieces located in engine bay, inner fender
  • Wheel flare
  • Appearance grill
  • Electronics
  • Sound deadener

DOORS:

  • Door panel
  • Belt Moldings
  • Vapor barrier
  • Sound deadener
  • Speaker
  • Aftermarket window visor
  • Mirror
  • Exterior handle
  • Striker catch
  • Regulator assembly
  • Weatherstrip
  • Wire harness
  • Door removal as needed
  • Laminated glass window Side view mirror

QUARTER PANEL:

  • Tail lights – Some vehicles require the rear bumper to be removed to gain access to the tail light anchor points for a full removal
  • Interior trim
  • Moldings
  • Quarter glass
  • Fuel door
  • Computer modules
  • Sound equipment
  • Antenna motor
  • Bumper
  • Wheel
  • Wheel opening trim / wheel flare
  • Fuel door repair

BEDSIDE:

  • Tail lamp
  • Bed rail caps
  • Camper shell, tonneau cover
  • Rear wheel
  • Wheel opening trim, flares
  • Headache rack
  • Toolbox
  • Bumper

RAILS

  • Drip molding Supplies
  • Glue materials

ROOF

  • Headliner R&I
  • Overhead console
  • Rear view mirror
  • Roof mounted A/V equipment
  • Liftgate/Hatch on SUV/Van/Crossover
  • Airbags
  • Roof racks
  • Roof mounted antenna
  • Roof mounted 3rd brake lamp
  • Additional lamps
  • Back glass on coupes, trucks
  • Quarter panel glass
  • Sunroof including tray when applicable
  • Liftgate / rear hatch
  • Windshield and or rear glass
  • Restraint systems
  • Exterior adhesive trim
  • Drip moldings
  • Sound deadener materials

DECK LID:

  • Interior liner
  • Removing and securing the panel in a workable position
  • Replacing the panel to original position on vehicle upon completion of repair
  • 3rd brake lamp
  • Deck lid interior handle
  • Additional panel mounted lamps
  • Spoiler
  • Wiring harness
  • License plate trim piece Backup camera

SUV HATCH / LIFTGATE

  • Interior trim
  • Removing and securing the panel in a workable position
  • Replacing the panel to original position on vehicle upon completion of repair
  • Liftgate mounted tire Spoiler
  • Glass
  • Moldings
  • Panel mounted lamps
  • License plate trim piece Wiring harness
  • 3rd brake lamp
  • Washer nozzles
  • Washer hoses
  • Wiper arm
  • Weatherstrip
  • Backup camera

TAILGATE

  • Trim panel
  • Removing and securing the panel in a workable position Replacing the panel to original position on vehicle upon completion of repair
  • Handle assembly
  • Latch assembly
  • Rail cap
  • Ladder assembly/grab bar
  • 3rd brake lamp
  • Backup camera

LABOR TIMES:

Labor times should be used to estimate time needed to remove and replace portions of the vehicle that cause obstruction to access points needed to repair damage. These items will vary depending on size/depth/location of the dents, vehicle age and condition, technician’s experience, equipment, vehicle make/model, etc. Labor rates default by regional location.


Due to the wide range of storm damage details and vehicle conditions, labor times for the following items can be added to an estimate. Additional items should not be limited to one per panel since many panels require multiple items be removed to gain access. Items that may incur additional repair costs and or R&I times include but are not limited to:

Dents that should not to be subject to the standard pricing

  • Oversize – with minute increases in size of the damage the difficulty of repair increases exponentially. Half dollar, Egg, Tennis ball, Baseball, Softball, and Grapefruit; should all be evaluated as their own respective categories
  • Multiple connected dents or one or more dents that fall in the affected area of another dent
  • Sharp or deep dents
  • Stretched dents
  • Corner or edge dents
  • Dents on tight radius, extra stiff curves
  • Creases
  • Dents on ribbed Roofs
  • Dents on extended panels
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