repairing front end damage to rad support that pushed fenders out

[iMPFAC]

Howdy, I've never posted but I lurk here all the time, but this is one I've not found a satisfactory answer to:

I hit an SUV doing around 5mph and his bumper was high enough to push into my grill. It cracked the bumper and smooshed the upper tie bar/radiator support in just a little-enough that it pushed both fenders out under half an inch and it broke the mounting bracket on the pass side headlight. Everything works and 3 different shops have looked at it and say it just needs to be straightened, to the tune of $1200 to do everything.

I can do everything but am hesitant about the smooshed out fenders.

Is it ok to use a come along and and tree and pull it straight myself? Any tips?

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...7-16190517.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...7-16190559.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...7-16190608.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...7-16190705.jpg

[TFCommanderBob]

Embedding for ease-of-use... No advice other than using a tree sounds scary.

[iMPFAC]

thanks, I couldn't figure out how to do that =)

[flamedrgn]

1200 seems like a good deal...i wouldnt try to do that myself.

[clintj]

Good luck with that... The shop will use tram gauges and most likely laser measuring to get everything back to factory spec dimensions. Not being square can cause all sorts of problems from handling and alignment to anything else. Also if you over pull you may cause even more damage. However, I doubt with a comealong and a tree you will be able to pull that sufficiently.

Your gaps may have been changed by 1/2" or more on both fenders however I guarantee that it will need to be pulled a lot more than that.

[iMPFAC]

I actually got an even lower one for 940. I think I'll get the parts off ebay and have the straightening work done professionally, not painting the replacement bumper should help with cost and I'd be saving like 150 on the parts.

any tips on what should I ask the guy to make sure he's doing the straightening correctly and I'm not paying for the sort of half assed work I can do?

[clintj]

- To not painting replacement parts.

I would highly recommend making sure any non-OEM replacement parts are CAPA certified. Even then CAPA certified parts have something like a 40% failure for fitment.

As to your question - Just ask the body shop what kind of system they use for pulling and measuring.

[cabur]

+1
Inspect the shop to see what equiptment he have to do the work. If you see a big tree with a chain around it, go to another shop.Ha ha.

[cabur]

Double post.

[SuperchargedMR2]

Just fix it right the first time & you will save a lot of money in the long run.

[flamedrgn]

i agree with everything above. you get what you pay for, so dont be cheap on something because the next repair might cost you more because this one wasnt fixed right.