821 Collision

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Manufacturers are starting to put distance between themselves and vehicle modifications — and there's a reason for it.

A few weeks back I broke down position statements from GM and Ford around modifications and how they affect ADAS functionality. This is the follow-up. What I think is driving it: HR 6688 — the ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act, introduced by SEMA, currently sitting in committee.

If this legislation passes, manufacturers may be required to comply with new standards around how modifications interact with advanced driver assistance systems. That's a big deal for our industry.

Look it up. Read it. And drop your thoughts in the comments — I want to know where you stand on this. 👇

06/04/2026

🛠️ This Week's Cool Tool!

Pulled this gem out — this thing is over a dozen years old and still one of the best visual aids we've come across. It's from an I-CAR course we took way back when, covering steering angles, diagnostic angles, and wheel alignment.

What makes it so valuable? It takes the stuff that's really hard to explain — caster, camber, toe, front and rear thrust angle — and makes it visual. Easy to understand for everyone, whether you're a tech, a consumer, or an insurance adjuster trying to make sense of a repair.

Not a lot of people fully understand the diagnostic side of alignment, but this tool breaks it all down clearly. A classic for a reason. 👌

Not sure if I-CAR still offers this course, but if they do — highly recommend. Day and a half well spent.

06/03/2026

Something every shop needs to know — we were pulling repair procedures for a C8 Corvette repair and noticed AllData and RepairLogic had the same document ID number but completely different procedures. 👀 Went straight to GM's official site to verify and RepairLogic was correct. AllData just hasn't updated yet.

Always verify your sources. The wrong procedure on the wrong car can cost you everything.

06/02/2026

That steering column isn't just a piece of metal — it's a spear pointed straight at you. 😳

We're back with the '57 T-Bird and this one's a lesson in how much vehicle safety has changed over the decades. Back then, cars were built like tanks on the outside — but the inside told a different story.

Watch the crash test footage we're dropping in this video: a 1959 Chevy Bel Air vs. a 2009 Malibu. Pay close attention to that steering wheel the moment the passenger compartment starts collapsing. That's exactly what we mean when we talk about construction design and driver survival.

Modern vehicles are engineered to collapse in a controlled way — absorbing energy, protecting the people inside. Older cars? Not so much.

This is why proper repairs matter. This is why OEM procedures exist. And this is why you don't cut corners when it comes to collision work.

06/01/2026

Ford & Lincoln just dropped a new position statement — and if you're repairing cars with ADAS, you need to read it. 👇

Released May 1st, Ford/Lincoln's new position statement covers Advanced Driver Assistance Systems integrity and repair — and it goes deep.

Pre & post scanning ✅ System calibration ✅ Sensor obstructions ✅ Vehicle modifications ✅ OE parts, warranty & liability ✅

But here's the part that stands out — they actually define what counts as an ADAS-related repair. That means any repair, replacement, removal, or installation of an ADAS sensor — cameras, radars, ultrasonics — the brackets, the attachment points, and even parts in the field of view like grille emblems.

Yes, that ties directly back to radar-compliant paint and the aftermarket parts conversation we've had before.

If you're a shop owner or technician, go find this one. Study it. Understand it. Because knowing this is the difference between a proper repair and liability you don't want. 🔧

Drop a comment if you've already seen it 👇

05/29/2026

Headlight aiming isn't as simple as pointing at a wall. 🔦 Every vehicle has specific procedures — the right vehicle height, the right aim point, the right method for that headlight type. We pull the repair procedures every time so we get it right and keep everyone safe on the road. 🚗✅

05/28/2026

Cool Tool Thursday. 🛠️

Yeah, it looks like a regular 4-inch grinder — but this is a shrinking disc, and it does something completely different.

A grinder removes material. This doesn't. It runs over the surface, finds the high spots, and heats them. Quench with water or air, and the metal actually shrinks back flat.

Found another use for it too — when there's a bunch of small highs across a panel, this thing planishes and flattens them all out in one pass. Creates a clean, flat surface on raw metal like nothing else.

That's today's cool tool. The shrinking disc. 👊

05/27/2026

The Jaguar is back. 🔧

We took a few weeks off from this one, but we're back at it — finishing up the interior pieces that were completely rusted out. Some of them had to be fabricated from scratch just to get the floor section in properly.

It's a process, but we're locked in and moving forward. Stay tuned — we'll keep you posted as this one comes together.