When most people think of automobile professionals, they think of car experts having a wealth of knowledge about what's under the hood how all the mechanical and electrical parts work together, and have an intuitive sense when something goes wrong. It isn't often that we consider that all of these complex machinations are housed in the body of a car, for what kind of expertise is needed to understand simple metallic paneling?
Yet when it comes to auto collisions, estimating, and repairs, one of the most commonly damaged part of the car is the body. After all, when a car comes into contact with another car, or a wall, or a tree, it is the body that takes the hit first. And it isn't only the engine parts that are protected by the body, but our own bodies as well. For this reason are extensive crash-tests performed which evaluate the auto body's ability to withstand a collision, or, to bend or crumple in a way so as to absorb most of the impact and not transfer it to the more valuable contents under the hood and inside the car.
There are many schools with automotive courses that have specializations in auto body training, just as one can specialize in the electrical systems or the engine. A fundamental beginning to auto body training is a preliminary understanding of all the parts that make up the auto body.
- Panels: These form the outer skin of the car. They are normally made from steel sheeting, a combination of iron with small amounts of carbon.
- Hood: This is a panel that covers the engine, and is attached to the car by a hinge for access to the engine. It could be made from sheet steel, or aluminum.
- Bumper: This is the part of the car that reaches out beyond both the front end and the back end of the body. It's role is to be the main point of contact in front and rear-end collisions. It is made from polypropylene foam or other thermoplastics, which can absorb some of the impact shock. Sometimes it has an aluminum cover to blend in with the rest of the car.
- Fender: This part of the body covers the wheel and the tires of a car. Its purpose is to prevent road debris, such as dirt, pebbles or mud, from flying up and back from under the spinning of the wheels.
- Pillars or Posts: These are part of the structure that support the roof and the windows of the car which rise up at vertical angles from the body. Cars can have two, three, or four pillars.
These are just some of the main components of an automobile's body. In case of a collision, one can trust a skilled auto body estimator to help make your repairs as economic as possible while keeping the car's safety as a first priority.
