Thanks to its lighter weight, more automotive manufacturers are choosing aluminum instead of steel to build the bodies of their vehicles. The reduction in weight helps improve fuel economy, especially for larger vehicles like the Ford F-150 pickup truck. However, despite the increasing popularity, steel continues to be more common.

For anyone whose car has an aluminum body, Precision Collision & Auto Glass cannot emphasize enough how important it is to choose an aluminum-certified shop. For 20 years, they have been the trusted collision repair shop in Frankfort, MI, and one of the only aluminum-certified car repair shops in the region.

According to Precision Collision & Auto Glass, most collision repair shops are tailored for steel and don’t have the materials, tools, and space needed to work on aluminum car bodies. There are a few reasons why an auto shop must be aluminum-certified:

• Reshaping: Aluminum does not possess the same level of resilience as steel; it can only be bent and reshaped so many times before it becomes completely unusable. At aluminum-certified shops, they have equipment, like an aluminum dent pulling station that will prevent unnecessary damage.

• Attaching: Unlike steel, aluminum pieces can't be welded together because the metal heats too quickly. To join pieces together, repair specialists need to use certain rivets and adhesives, not to mention special techniques.

• Corrosion: Any tools and equipment used on steel cannot be used on aluminum. If the two metal pieces are unfinished, there will be a corrosive reaction between them— even shavings and dust can create a problem. Taking your car to a steel-only collision repair shop could cause further damage to your vehicle.

If your vehicle has an aluminum body, make sure you take it to an aluminum-certified shop for car repairs, especially when it comes to collision repair. Anyone in the Benzie, Leelanau, Manistee and Grand Traverse counties can visit Precision Collision & Auto Glass for all of their automotive needs; aside from collision repairs, they also offer their ultimate rust and stone protection application, bedliners, windshield repair and replacement and car detailing. Visit the website or call (231) 352-7948 for more information.