Aluminum hoods, doors, and fenders need a different touch than steel — too much pressure in the wrong spot can stretch or work-harden the metal permanently.
Steel flexes and returns to shape in a fairly forgiving way under PDR pressure. Aluminum doesn't behave the same way — it work-hardens faster, meaning repeated pressure in the same spot can make the metal stiffer and more prone to cracking or stretching instead of smoothing out. A technician without specific aluminum experience can turn a fixable dent into a panel that needs replacement.
Aluminum shows up on a growing number of vehicles: the Ford F-150's hood, doors, and bed on many trim levels, several Tesla body panels, and hoods or fenders on a number of luxury and performance models where manufacturers use it to cut weight. If you're not sure what your panel is made of, our technicians identify it during your free inspection.
Aluminum PDR uses lighter, more incremental pressure and different tool geometry than steel work, with more frequent checks under the light board to catch progress before overworking the metal. It generally takes longer per dent than an equivalent steel repair, which is reflected in how we price aluminum jobs individually rather than off a flat rate.
If an aluminum panel already shows stress cracks, if the dent is too sharp or too deep, or if the paint has cracked, PDR isn't the right tool and we'll say so. Aluminum body repair at that point often requires panel-specific equipment and, in some cases, replacement rather than repair.
Many can, especially typical hail dimpling and door dings where the paint is intact. Sharper creases, stress cracks, or damage near a panel edge are more likely to need a body shop. We'll give you an honest answer during your free inspection.
It generally takes more time and more careful technique per dent, since aluminum work-hardens faster than steel and can't be pushed as aggressively. We price aluminum repairs individually rather than off a flat per-dent rate for that reason.
It varies by model and trim, but the Ford F-150 (hood, doors, bed on many trims), several Tesla panels, and hoods or fenders on some luxury and performance vehicles are common examples. We identify the panel material for you during the inspection.
No — the process is the same principle as steel PDR: working the metal from behind the panel without sanding, filling, or repainting, so the factory finish stays intact.
We'll tell you directly and explain why, rather than attempting a repair that won't hold up. From there we can advise on next steps, including collision repair if a panel needs replacement.
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