PDR vs. Traditional Repair: The Process

PDR is the process of restoring the dented or damaged panels of your vehicle’s body back to factory finish. This is done by reshaping the sheet metal back to its factory-designed shape without causing any damage to the original paint.

PDR tools/dent tools such as LED reflection lights are used to help the technician see even the finest details of damage that has occurred to the body; along with any imperfections on the painted surface and the Orange Peel – texture on the painted surface of a vehicle.

For technicians performing PDR, being able to identify their tooling through the metal panel is essential. Specialized PDR lights cast a specific light contrast onto the panel of the vehicle; creating dark and bright spots that amplify the texture. Think of this process like using a zoom or magnification feature so that every tiny detail and imperfection on the body is easily identifiable.

With proper lighting, the technician can see through the panel and make the right pushes to restore the panel back to its original position. Moreover, it ensures that the repair is completed to the highest level of perfection and as if no damage ever occurred to the area.

Trained technicians use the PDR technique to remove small dents and dings from vehicle bodies with ease, as it helps avoid repainting the affected parts. It allows vehicle owners to elude expensive repairs such as replacing vehicle panels or even repainting the whole vehicle to match the repaired part. However, sharper dents may still require traditional auto body repair.

On the other hand, traditional auto body repair typically involves welding steel pins into the sheet metal and filling in the gaps with fillers (plastic or glass). Conventional repair, more often than not, requires spraying tons of layers of harmful chemicals, in efforts to bring the sheet metal closest to its factory-set shape, as you wait for weeks with your vehicle parked at the workshop.

 

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