Accident Repair?

[Aleph]

So I got in an accident where I got hit by a Chevy Malibu going ~20 mph to my passenger front wheel. Nobody was hurt, thank goodness. I fucked up and was at fault because I was taking a left turn on green. My entire axle is shifted to the driver’s side by like 3 inches, as in my driver side front wheel is poking out ~3 inches from the fender. Suspension and tires completely stock. Rubbing with just turning the wheel 45 degrees. I have to turn my steering wheel 90 degrees to go straight. I’m heartbroken. I effing love this truck and it’s brought me a lot of joy. Had a camping trip planned and now I’m devastated about not being able to wheel.
My question is where I should take this to get repaired?
I’m guessing not the dealership, right? I’m only at 6600 miles and still in warranty. Would the repair void the warranty if I got it done at an outside shop? Anything I should look out for to find a reputable shop? If anyone can recommend a good shop in the Atlanta, Georgia area I would be eternally grateful.

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[punk'n]

Its an accident. As long as its repaired correctly it should have no effect on your warranty.

I would contact a local reputable body shop if you do not want to use the dealer. Body shops repair more than just the "body" if you are in a crash.

 

[Aleph]

Its an accident. As long as its repaired correctly it should have no effect on your warranty.

I would contact a local reputable body shop if you do not want to use the dealer. Body shops repair more than just the "body" if you are in a crash.

is there any specific advantage to using the dealer? My insurance has collision coverage so I’d be paying the deductible regardless.

 

[punk'n]

I wouldn't say there is an advantage. But, if you are worried about the the warranty, have the dealer fix it. They cannot come back later and say it wasn't done right. Plus, you state insurance is paying anyways (aside from deductible).

Of course, touch base with your insurance first and verify you can bring it to the shop of your choice (I think some states are different in that).

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I wouldn't say there is an advantage. But, if you are worried about the the warranty, have the dealer fix it. They cannot come back later and say it wasn't done right. Plus, you state insurance is paying anyways (aside from deductible).

Of course, touch base with your insurance first and verify you can bring it to the shop of your choice (I think some states are different in that).

I'd at least start with a dealership's collision shop.
Two dealerships around here have decent collision shops - they are part of the dealership - but then again not totally. Both of those I am thinking of have distinct staff and buildings but are on the same property. They operate as a different business entity, but there's never a question about warranty in those cases.

And as already said - as long as it's "like parts", it's fine. Will some other shop know all of the quirks and things to check about a Jeep? Maybe, maybe not. Some body shops around here I would not let work on a Jeep - they just don't see many of them and they prefer simple car repairs for fast insurance turn-around.

 

[Hootbro]

Something that new, I would tend to lean towards a local dealership collision repair shop or if they do not have one, a local collision body shop that is contracted to the dealership.

You want somebody that has immediate and up to date repair info with body and frame dimension specs.

There may be tweaking of the suspension to body frame mounts that may need to be addressed and could setup a situation of where it may be on the fence of being totaled out or not. I think a dealership collision repair body shop would be better suited to handle such things over a independent body shop.

 

[Tuna]

Another vote for dealership collision center repair. I had my JK parked out in the street and it got hit in the rear driver wheel by a drunk driver only 3 months into ownership. The hit shifted my rear axle and bent the frame just a tiny bit. I took it to my dealership's collision center and they did the job with genuine mopar parts. They didn't want to mess with frame integrity so they swapped in a new frame as well. No issue's with warranty knowing that the repair was done by a trusted Jeep repair shop.

 

[Rocksalt]

Your insurance claims person should also know of reputable body/ collisionr repair shops

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Your insurance claims person should also know of reputable body/ collisionr repair shops

Or at least recommend one because they have cheap labor rates, use after-market cheaper parts and cut deals with insurance companies resulting in lower costs..............

I pick my own - I don't let the guy paying the bill pick it for me.
And if the other party's insurance is paying, they sure as heck aren't going to recommend the shop. That's the cat guarding the hamster cage.

 

[Rocksalt]

Or at least recommend one because they have cheap labor rates, use after-market cheaper parts and cut deals with insurance companies resulting in lower costs..............

I pick my own - I don't let the guy paying the bill pick it for me.
And if the other party's insurance is paying, they sure as heck aren't going to recommend the shop. That's the cat guarding the hamster cage.

I have never had that experience with my insurance and claims reps I have worked with only suggest the repair place. I guess if one has cheapo insurance then they cut corners. Also here in Illinois it is no fault insursnce.

 

[legend007]

So I got in an accident where I got hit by a Chevy Malibu going ~20 mph to my passenger front wheel. Nobody was hurt, thank goodness. I fucked up and was at fault because I was taking a left turn on green. My entire axle is shifted to the driver’s side by like 3 inches, as in my driver side front wheel is poking out ~3 inches from the fender. Suspension and tires completely stock. Rubbing with just turning the wheel 45 degrees. I have to turn my steering wheel 90 degrees to go straight. I’m heartbroken. I effing love this truck and it’s brought me a lot of joy. Had a camping trip planned and now I’m devastated about not being able to wheel.
My question is where I should take this to get repaired?
I’m guessing not the dealership, right? I’m only at 6600 miles and still in warranty. Would the repair void the warranty if I got it done at an outside shop? Anything I should look out for to find a reputable shop? If anyone can recommend a good shop in the Atlanta, Georgia area I would be eternally grateful.

Siimilar but passenger side for me I took mine to Troncalli Jeep in Cumming GA

 

[Aleph]

Or at least recommend one because they have cheap labor rates, use after-market cheaper parts and cut deals with insurance companies resulting in lower costs..............

I pick my own - I don't let the guy paying the bill pick it for me.
And if the other party's insurance is paying, they sure as heck aren't going to recommend the shop. That's the cat guarding the hamster cage.

This is exactly my thoughts. I found a reputable collision shop that uses genuine parts and runs an honest operation for body repair, but it’s hard to gauge a shop’s ability to deal with the mechanical aspects of the suspension of a Jeep.

 

[Aleph]

Siimilar but passenger side for me I took mine to Troncalli Jeep in Cumming GA

What was your experience? Did they use a separate collision shop?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

but it’s hard to gauge a shop’s ability to deal with the mechanical aspects of the suspension of a Jeep.

Yeah, and you have to hope they know to look for things that may have been affected due to the sheer forces involved, physics says a body at rest wants to stay at rest and the more mass it has, the more resistance it has to being moved. So an impact can damage things that are heavy, such as the housings or castings of axles, transmissions, engines and so on.
These also have hydraulic body mounts in some locations if I recall correctly - they may appear ok but eventually leak if damaged.

 

[Rocksalt]

What was your experience? Did they use a separate collision shop?

yes they allow me to choose my own.. not sure what your insurance is, but I have never had any issues with 30 years or vehicles

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