AllExperts > Auto body repair & detailing 
Search      
Auto body repair & detailing
Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Auto body repair & detailing Questions · Question Library  · Free Encyclopedia ·
More Auto body repair & detailing Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about Auto body repair & detailing
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
About Michael Kakuk
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer any question that you may have about collision repairs and what to do after an accident. I can also answer basic mechanical problems but that is not my area of expertise.I can help you with repairing your own vehicle in your garage and also answer any paint related questions.

Experience
15 years experience with State Farm insurance as an auto inspector. 10 years of collision center management with 3 fortune 500 companies.

Organizations
Ezine expert author.

Publications
Ezine magazine Car advertisements Various car related web sites

Education/Credentials
Votech School Chief Frame School Hunter Alignment school I-CAR Certified Plastic Repairs Aluminum Repairs

   

You are here:  Experts > Autos > Auto Parts > Auto body repair & detailing

SubjectDate AskedExpert

94 GMC Surburban2/7/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: If the frame is bent on the passenger side front,what might be a general cost for straightening?
  A: Randy, For me to give you an accurate estimate on frame repair sight unseen is very difficult to ...
removal of chevy surburban barn doors2/7/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: I have 2 chevy surburban suv's. a '93 and a '94.I see there are 4 bolts holding the angle hinges to ...
  A: They should all unbolt at both ends with (3) three 13 mm bolts. Apply a little WD-40 on the hinge ...
dent repair2/4/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: Can dry ice really take out some small dents? If so, how would you go about using this method? ...
  A: Dry ice can be used for small and shallow dings. This method is old and not used in repair shops . ...
Paint and clear coat2/4/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: I wish to repaint the roof and hood of my 97 ford pickup. My question is that the clear and base ...
  A: Chris....by the description of the hood it sounds like the hood will have to be stripped down to ...
1994 Honda Accord2/4/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: This past December I was going down a hill and hydroplaned right into a street pole at about ...
  A: JOhn.....sounds like you have damaged the bumper reinforcement and core support. The reinforcement ...
PAINT/ CLEAR COAT2/3/2010Gary
  Q: I don't know if this is a question you can answer or not, but I hope you can. I purchased a vehicle ...
  A: I am familiar with Transtar clear. In my opinion, do not use it! I have had nothing but bad ...
underbody rustproofing2/2/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: Recently purchased 2001 F250. Truck is in great shape except significant rust on underbody. Looked ...
  A: Yes and Not necessarily Phil. If you live on the east coast/Canada, or places where there is a ...
Front Shocks/Struts Replacement Affecting Fuel Efficiency Afterwards2/1/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: I have a 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe and just last week, I had the front shocks/struts replaced under ...
  A: This is kinda like calling a doctor and telling him you have a pain and expecting a cure over the ...
72 mustang roof rust1/31/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: Should I try to repair the roof or should I cut it off and replace? It is soft/flimsy on the ...
  A: Cindy, Thank you so much for the added photo.This helps greatly,and I would say a roof replacement ...
How to remove tail light bulb on 1999 Chevy S-101/30/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: I need to replace the left brake light bulb on my 1999 Chevy S-10 pickup. Could you tell me how I go ...
  A: Harry. You may have to remove the bedliner, or if possible loosen the rear portion close to your ...
Touch Up Paint on 2008 328i BMW1/28/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: i recently backed into another car very slowly and it took a line about 1 cm thick and 5 inches long ...
  A: J.... NO PROBLEM. OPTION #1. CALL THE DEALER AND GIVE THEM YOUR VEHICLE ID NUMBER LOCATED ON THE ...
rear end1/28/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: I bought a 92 honda civic sedan lx that had been taken into the ditch. It had ripped the passenger ...
  A: I believe that this part may be a dealer item,but yes it is available to purchase. You may want ...
UNIBODY DAMAGE1/27/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: i was about to buy a 2006 Nissan 350Z Conv.with 44.000 miles. the dealer said it was never damaged. ...
  A: RAY..... DO YOU REALLY REALLY WANT THIS CAR? WHAT I MEAN IS ARE YOU GETTING A PRICE REDUCTION FOR ...
Front Shocks/Struts Replacement Affecting Fuel Efficiency Afterwards1/27/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: I have a 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe and just last week, I had the front shocks/struts replaced under ...
  A: Fred, The only conclusion I can come up with in your case here would be a wind co-efficient ...
acrylic top over urethane base1/25/2010Gary
  Q: I'm going to paint a replacement bumper pad for my 2001 Tacoma. I don't think my hobby grade detail ...
  A: Duplicolor spray cans are typically made with lacquer based products. So it should work over the ...
Hyundai rear driver door1/19/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: I have recieved three different solutions from three seperate auto body repair shops regarding ...
  A: ERICA....MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO ASK IF YOU ARE GOING THRU INSURANCE FOR PAYMENT OR PAYING OUT OF ...
Body collision and frame repair1/18/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: An accident involving a Suburban and a BMW, colliding while both were backing out of opposite ...
  A: WILLIAM.... WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE DAMAGES IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE. THE ...
remove/repair roof on lincoln t/c1/16/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: how do i obtain information on how to go about replacing the roof on my Lincoln at/c.right now it,S ...
  A: CHARLES..... SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO REMOVE THE VINYL TOP FROM THE ROOF OF THE LINCOLN. THIS IS NOT ...
Toyota Matrix Drip Rail1/14/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: I have a 2004 Toyota Matrix and one of the drip rails is damaged at the rear, just in front of the ...
  A: WALTER.....BY DRIP RAIL ARE YOU MEANING THE RUBBER ROOF STRIP? I AM ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE. ON SOME ...
Paint swirls in new car1/13/2010Bob
  Q: but I heard an interesting answer for th car dealer and wanted to check its validitiy. We just ...
  A: The swirl marks are from a buffer. The treatment that they gave you covered the swirls by using a ...
Repairs on a 2007 Camry after rear end collision1/12/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: My 2007 Camry was hit on the left side of the rear end. My driverside rear tire was pushed inward ...
  A: NOEL.....THE REAR WHEEL SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHING THE BODY OF THE CAR. ASK THE SHOP FOR A COPY OF YOUR ...
car safe after cutting/welding at frame crumple zone/1/11/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: Bill, I smashed my 2003 Corolla front end up pretty good. Two body shops said the bent frame could ...
  A: Kristine, This is your decision you... are the shot caller.Not the insurance company here.It is ...
'84 El Camino Restoration1/10/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: Recently I had my '84 El Camino repainted to its orginal burgundy color, but the shop did not ...
  A: Unfortunately, these would more than likely be a dealer item and you may have to spend a few extra ...
prime&block1/7/2010Mark Haben
  Q: just a quick question in reference to the prime and block operation. i am an insurance appraiser ...
  A: Seth- In most shops where I have worked we have always attempted to get additional time for Prime ...
96 Chevy Blazer1/6/2010Bill Milbert
  Q: I have been having problems with my manual door lock and I've just taken the inside panel off. The ...
  A: Dexter. You do notneed to remove the window. Inner door panel, top half. Your lock should be ...
New vehicle body repair quality1/5/2010William Forster
  Q: My new (1 week old) 2010 F150 truck passenger door and (underdoor part) got damaged from slipping ...
  A: Mike, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. This is a superficial dent. Insist on a complete new ...
painting1/5/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: mike,i need help. i have a 2000 grandam gt with dent in door, it is in the middle of the door ,i ...
  A: STEVE.........IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF PAINT YOU ARE PLANNING TO USE...BASE/CLEAR OR SINGLE ...
Painting OEM panels off car1/4/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: I need to get my daugthers 98 Toyota back on the road so she can commute to school.... I have ...
  A: YES....PRIMER AND WAIT TILL YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT HEAT. YOU WILL HAVE TO SAND DOWN THE PRIMER IN THE ...
dented 1994 corolla1/3/2010William Forster
  Q: on a 1994 toyota corolla the back quarte panel on the driver side is it all one piece that includes ...
  A: It's just the quarter panel- the panel is grafted together in a hidden seam near the roof. Most cars ...
Painting OEM panels off car1/2/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: I need to get my daugthers 98 Toyota back on the road so she can commute to school.... I have ...
  A: CRAIG.....IF YOU CAN GET THE GARAGE TO A MINIMUM OF 60 DEGREES YOU CAN USE A 2 PART PRIMER. IF YOU ...
need some assessment regarding frame damage1/1/2010Michael Kakuk
  Q: I am attaching the pics. how likely it is that frame was damaged? insurance has deemed it total and ...
  A: I SEE MAJOR DAMAGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE BASED ON THE NEW PHOTOS....MY ADVICE TO YOU ...
paints and primers for classic motorscooter12/31/2009Gary
  Q: I am restoring a 1960 Cushman scooter that will be getting a body paint of PPG DCC 14339 cascade ...
  A: Yes, DCC can be clear-coated with no problems at all. It can be done 2 ways. 1 way would be to allow ...
need some assessment regarding frame damage12/31/2009Michael Kakuk
  Q: I am attaching the pics. how likely it is that frame was damaged? insurance has deemed it total and ...
  A: froogle.....the photo indicates that there is a good possibility of the rt hinge post being in need ...
Windshield chrome molding12/31/2009Bill Milbert
  Q: ...recently high winds literally ripped the chrome molding from my windshield breaking several of ...
  A: Lori, This would be a dealer item.However if there is no Jeep Dealership near you. You could ...
Old car frame questions/frustration12/30/2009Bill Milbert
  Q: I am getting extremely frustrated with body shops around Baltimore. I have an old mopar (1970) 2 ...
  A: Jerry, You said in the last reply, that the car was never hit? Why then do you feel there is some ...
Highlander Frame Kink12/30/2009William Forster
  Q: Recently, while making a left turn, my brother hit a patch of black ice. The car slipped and hit a ...
  A: Find another body shop. DO NOT have him weld a plate over the kink- unibodies are specifically ...
Old car frame questions/frustration12/30/2009Bill Milbert
  Q: I am getting extremely frustrated with body shops around Baltimore. I have an old mopar (1970) 2 ...
  A: Jerry, I don't understand either pal. Is this a restoration project? Is the car drivable? In any ...
Driver side door not closing12/29/2009Michael Kakuk
  Q: I have a 03 gti and the driver side door does not close all the way, i don't know exactly how big ...
  A: MIKE. .... SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A DOOR LATCH PROBLEM. SLOWLY CLOSE THE DOOR AND SEE IF YOU CAN FEEL ...
1996 and 1999 chevy s10 radiator support replacment12/27/2009Bill Milbert
  Q: I have two Chevy s10's that have had front end collisions. One is a 1996 and the other is a 1999. ...
  A: You may just have to make it fit.Do so by making the very small alterations needed by looking at the ...
Driver's Side Door Handle replacement for 2000 Toyota Sienna12/27/2009William Forster
  Q: Mr. Forster, I have broken the driver's side door handle to my 2000 Toyota Sienna Mini-van. I have ...
  A: Randall, I would suggest you have a body shop order, paint, and install the part. They are much more ...

Page:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10  |  Next      All


Questions by
Active Experts:
Mark HabenMichael KakukBill Milbert
GaryBob 

Email this page
     
User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright  © 2006 About, Inc. AllExperts, AllExperts.com, and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. All rights reserved.