Thanks for the detailed reply. Lots of great/helpful information.
This is a Toyota Corolla. The same Corollas that run all over Afghanistan and Pakistan on unimproved roads 12-16 hours a day every day. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, these get into accidents, both single car and multiple car regularly. There are not frame straitening laser guided machines buttoning these Toyotas back together. Yet after repair after repair, they are back on the road for many, many years- even decades.
These are awesome basic/ crude machines that can take the worst beatings and keep on ticking. I am not looking for perfection in straitening a frame rail bumper mount. I am confident the work I am doing far exceeds what car flippers do, and likely exceed what many licensed body shops execute.
I commend you for the work you do, making this corolla perfect is not the mission. Juice isn't worth the squeeze. Having a nice and reliable car that will be street parked in an urban environment is the end-state.
Hey no worries, it’s your rig and your choice.
I’m not looking for perfection for the rigs I do either. Financial is the main reason for my self and the fact I’m an engineer and gear head is just adding to the addiction. I’ve done the ole tree jerk method too.
My comments are really to point out that the forces involved in a fender bender are crazy and you have to really measure, measure, measure.
In the case of my daughters Escape ( now on the road in college successfully) the low speed hit on the front passenger side pulled the entire engine bay and drivers frame rail to the passenger side a full 2 inches plus pushing the frame rail back 4”. You couldn’t see the motor out of alignment when you put the donor hood on, but could really see it in the motor mounts.
The stress on the driveline, steering, suspension and such can’t be underestimated.
It’s not as simple as pulling a bumper support out and installing a new cover and calling it a day on front end repairs.
The structure has been compromised and the safety of the occupants in the vehicle will depend on the quality of the repairs. I really hate to use the safety card, but it’s frankly the truth.
For me this is the reason I take the detailed effort and the extra time.
Another quick way is to check against another buddy’s vehicle if possible.
Nonetheless it’s a cool project and I commend you for taking it on. It’s truly a rewarding experience.
Btw, this is the primary tramgauge I use. It works great for determining your horizontal plane as well.
