Share:

Many car owners don't think much about their vehicle's chassis—probably because it’s located underneath the car where it's out of sight. It's not surprising that some fail to have it checked in an auto repair shop following a collision or fender bender, resulting in costlier troubles down the road. Below are a few things to know about this essential component of your car.  

What Makes Up a Car Chassis?

The chassis is the carbon steel- or aluminum-made load-bearing frame of your vehicle. It includes mounted components such as the suspension, transmission, axles, wheels, steering and braking systems, and engine. Some types of automotive chassis have front seats attached as well.  

The purpose of a chassis is to bear static and dynamic loads efficiently while moving. It must be sturdy enough to carry the weight of mounted components, passengers, and cargo. To ensure a safe ride, the chassis should not be deformed or distorted when accelerating, braking, turning corners, and driving on uneven surfaces. It must keep its shape as much as possible amidst lateral forces from crosswinds and collisions.

Different Types of Chassis

There are two different types of vehicle chassis—body-on-frame and unibody. Here's a closer look at how they vary from one another.

Body-on-Frame Chassis

A vehicle body that sits on top of the frame has a body-on-frame chassis. It’s the original construction type and allows both components to function independently, making it easy to add and remove parts for auto repairs.

A body-on-frame chassis is durable and offers a high load capacity. However, it’s tougher to handle and creates more vibrations inside of the car’s cabin compared to a unibody chassis. Nowadays, it is found in heavy vehicles like trucks and off-roaders.  

Unibody Chassis

auto repairOn the other hand, the unibody chassis combines the body and frame into one unit as the base. Unlike the conventional frame, it’s more complicated and expensive to repair when damaged, as its structural integrity is likely to be compromised. It’s often used in smaller vehicles such as sedans and compact SUVs, making these cars more fuel-efficient and easier to handle.

 

Keep your car chassis in excellent shape with routine maintenance at Howard's Auto Body, a trusted auto repair shop in Canton, GA. For nearly two decades, their skilled technicians have offered top-notch auto body repair services throughout the area, including auto accident and collision repairs. Call (770) 720-1107 to set an auto repair appointment, or visit the website to learn about their other services.

tracking