UNCOVERING HIDDEN DAMAGE

If you’re not looking for something, will you find it anyway?

Sometimes. Maybe.

More likely, maybe not. When it comes to collision repair, that’s a problem. For the customer, and for the repair shop. Missing things that could or should have been caught results in inconvenience, extra cost and a very annoyed customer.

To uncover hidden problems, you’ve got to know where they might be hiding. The Collision Alignment System from Hunter Engineering shows technicians where to look.

This is often necessary, because what’s appropriate for a typical maintenance wheel alignment won’t always be enough for a collision scenario. Primary measurements, such as toe, camber and caster, only get you halfway to where you need to be. Possible hidden damage remains hidden.

The Collision Alignment System helps techs finish the job, thanks to specific collision workflow procedures to ensure they take essential in-depth measurements to uncover damage right away – rather than as a surprise during the alignment at the end of the repair process. Or worse: missing it altogether.

The five collision-specific diagnostic measurements are:

• Toe out on turn

• Maximum steer

• Ride height

• Suspension body dimension audit (SBDA)

• Symmetry and setback

Frequently, a vehicle can check out fine with the usual primary measurements. What the tech would not find without looking would be things like a damaged subframe or unibody, damaged lower control arms, shifted axles, bent spindles or other affected components that would slip under the radar.

Not only will the system provide a more complete blueprint of the necessary work, but it also makes the tech’s life easier by walking him or her through the process. Instead of hunting and pecking all over to find additional measurements, Hunter’s award-winning WinAlign® software guides the tech through the procedures step by step with minimal interaction.

Easily decipherable documentation also clearly communicates the nature of the work to be performed.

By finding hidden problems at the start of the process instead of the end, a complete estimate can be written that will require no later adjusting.

This means no extra cycle time and cost, saving time and money for both the customer and the collision shop. Not to mention missed items remaining dormant until they rear their heads months and many miles later, possibly in an unsafe manner.

For collision shops interested in doing ADAS work instead of subletting it, the system integrates with Hunter’s ADASLink® diagnostic scan tool, capable of guiding the technician through ADAS calibrations for millions of vehicles.

When you don’t know what you don’t know, it’s like walking around in the dark. The Collision Alignment System sheds light and allows you to retain your customers by maintaining your usual standard of quick and accurate service.