Found a quick way to check for hidden frame damage on older trucks

Last month I was looking at a 2003 Silverado with a clean carfax but a weird pull. Instead of just the usual checks, I ran a string line from the rear bumper mount to the front core support on both sides. The passenger side was off by almost an inch and a half. It turned out the whole front rail had been pushed back from a hit the owner never reported. Saved me from buying a truck that would never align right. Anyone have a different method for spotting this kind of hidden damage on full-size rigs?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_allen17d ago

Sam's out here looking for factory welds like he's solving a crime scene, while I'm just trying to make sure my coffee doesn't spill on the test drive.

sam_murphy3917d ago

Good trick, but that string method can be thrown off if the bumpers aren't original. I always check the factory welds on the frame rails for any signs of grinding or reworking. A clean line there tells you more than any string ever could.

the_parker16d ago

Man, @sam_murphy39 is right, that's a solid point about the welds. I'd never even thought to check there.