Serious structural damage
requires serious equipment.
Frame and structural damage from a collision affects your vehicle's safety in every future impact. Weirs Collision Center uses computer-measured frame straightening equipment to restore your vehicle's structure to manufacturer specifications — not close enough, exactly right.
Frame damage is a safety issue — not just a cosmetic one.
A vehicle with unrepaired or improperly repaired frame damage does not perform as designed in a future collision. Crumple zones, airbag trigger points, and structural rigidity all depend on the frame being within manufacturer tolerances. "Close enough" is not good enough when it comes to structural integrity.
The shop that can handle whatever happened.
Not every collision repair shop in Maine is equipped for serious structural work. Frame straightening requires specialized pulling equipment, a precise computer measuring system, and technicians trained to read and interpret manufacturer-specific frame data. Without all three, a "frame repair" is guesswork.
At Weirs Collision Center, we've been handling structural damage since 1960. Our computer-based measuring system takes hundreds of measurement points across your vehicle and compares them against the manufacturer's published specifications for your exact make and model — so we know exactly what needs to move, and by how much, before we touch the frame.
Whether you drive a unibody sedan, a full-frame pickup, or an aluminum-intensive modern vehicle, we have the equipment and certifications to restore your vehicle's structure correctly. Serving Arundel, Kennebunk, Biddeford, Saco, Wells, and all of York County.
We handle the full spectrum of frame damage.
Structural damage comes in many forms. Our measuring system and pulling equipment are designed to address all of them — from subtle misalignment to severe collision deformation.
Head-on and front-quarter collisions frequently push the engine cradle, front rails, and strut towers out of alignment. We measure and restore all front structural elements to spec before any body or mechanical work begins.
Most commonWhen a vehicle is struck at an angle, the frame can twist diagonally — called "diamond" damage. One corner of the vehicle is pushed forward or back relative to the opposite corner. This requires simultaneous multi-point pulling to correct.
Requires measuring systemSide-impact collisions can push the entire frame laterally off center. Side-sway damage affects wheel alignment, door gaps, and suspension geometry. Computer measurement is the only reliable way to detect and correct it.
Side impactHigh-speed frontal impacts compress the frame longitudinally (mash) or cause the center section to drop vertically (sag). Both types affect suspension pickup points and require precise pulling in the correct vector to restore geometry.
High-speed impactRear-end collisions at significant speed can damage rear rails, the spare tire well, fuel tank mounts, and rear suspension geometry. We measure and restore rear structural components to OEM specification.
Rear collisionAluminum-intensive vehicles like the Ford F-150 require specialized tools, dedicated workspaces, and I-CAR aluminum repair certification — because aluminum cannot be repaired with the same techniques as steel. We hold that certification.
I-CAR aluminum certifiedUnibody vs. full frame — what's the difference?
The type of frame your vehicle has determines the approach to structural repair. We handle both — with the correct equipment and procedures for each.
In a unibody vehicle, the body and frame are a single welded structure. There is no separate frame underneath — the floor, pillars, and rocker panels all contribute to structural integrity. Damage to any of these areas is structural damage.
- Measuring system maps hundreds of points across the body structure
- Pulling performed at factory-designated structural anchor points
- Sectioning (replacing damaged structural sections) performed per OEM guidelines
- Aluminum unibody vehicles require dedicated tools and contamination prevention
Full-frame vehicles have a separate ladder-style frame under the body. The frame carries the load and provides the primary structural protection in a collision. Frame damage on a truck is often more severe than it appears from the outside.
- Frame rails, crossmembers, and mounting points measured to spec
- Pulling equipment anchors to frame for high-force corrections
- Suspension and drivetrain geometry verified after structural correction
- Aluminum frame trucks (e.g., Ford F-150) require I-CAR aluminum certification
From measurement to manufacturer spec.
Every structural repair at Weirs follows the same disciplined process — measure first, pull to spec, verify, then build back on top.
Before any measurements are taken, damaged body panels and components are removed to expose the structural damage underneath. Collision damage is frequently more extensive than the exterior suggests — full teardown ensures we see everything before writing the repair plan.
Our computerized measuring system captures the current position of key structural reference points across your vehicle. These measurements are compared against the manufacturer's published data for your exact make, model, and year — giving us a precise map of what needs to move and by how much.
The vehicle is secured to the frame bench and controlled pulling force is applied at the correct vector and anchor points to move the damaged structure back toward spec. The measuring system monitors in real time — we pull, measure, adjust, and pull again until the numbers match the manufacturer's tolerance.
When a structural section is too severely damaged to pull back into specification, it must be replaced. We section and replace damaged structural components using OEM-approved procedures — including correct weld placement, weld type, and corrosion protection. No shortcuts that compromise the repair's long-term integrity.
Once structural work is complete, we run the full measurement protocol again — verifying that every reference point is within manufacturer tolerances before we move on to body, paint, or mechanical work. The post-repair measurement report is documented and available for your records.
With the structure confirmed correct, we rebuild — reinstalling suspension components, verifying alignment geometry, then proceeding through body repair and PPG refinish. ADAS sensors and safety systems are recalibrated after any structural repair that may affect their positioning. Lifetime warranty issued at delivery.
Your manufacturer's procedures. Not a guess.
Every vehicle manufacturer publishes specific repair procedures for structural damage — including where to anchor during pulling, what sections can be replaced vs. straightened, how welds must be made, and what tolerances define a correct repair. Following these procedures is how you protect your vehicle's warranty and its structural integrity in a future collision.
Our 8 active OEM certifications mean our technicians are trained and tested on your specific vehicle's structural repair requirements — not applying generic techniques to a vehicle they've never been trained on. Combined with I-CAR Gold Class and our aluminum repair certification, we're equipped for whatever you bring in.
Class
I-CAR Gold Class + Aluminum Repair Certification
I-CAR Gold Class requires ongoing role-specific training as vehicles evolve — including aluminum repair certification for today's aluminum-intensive truck and EV platforms. Fewer than 20% of U.S. shops hold Gold Class.
Frame damage is almost always an insurance claim. We handle the whole process.
Structural repairs are typically among the largest collision claims. Weirs files directly with your insurer, manages the adjuster relationship, submits supplemental claims when hidden damage is discovered during teardown (and it almost always is), and ensures the repair is fully funded to OEM spec — not cut short by the insurer's preferred cost targets.
You choose where your vehicle is repaired. Maine law prohibits your insurance company from requiring you to use a specific shop. We'll make sure your claim covers the repair it actually takes — not the cheapest version of it. Learn more about insurance claims ›
What we handle for you
You pay your deductible. We manage everything else.
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1Initial estimate submitted to your insurer
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2Adjuster communication & documentation
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3Supplemental claims for hidden structural damage
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4OEM parts authorization (where applicable)
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5Direct billing — no out-of-pocket beyond deductible
Frame straightening for all of Southern Maine.
Frame straightening FAQ.
Real reviews from real structural repairs.
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Weirs Collision Center - Find our Auto Body Shop on carwise.com
Structural damage repaired
the right way.
If your vehicle has been in a significant collision, don't assume the damage ends at what you can see. Get a proper structural assessment from a shop with the equipment and certifications to handle whatever is underneath.
Weirs Collision Center · 1513 Portland Road, Arundel, ME 04046 · (207) 604-7291 · Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm · Walk-Ins Welcome