ABSTRACT
Damaged bodywork is corrected by first observing the extent of the damage, then deciding how it was caused and the sequence in which it occurred. Damage can be classified into two groups, these are: Direct or primary damage and Indirect or secondary damage. Direction of damage, or line of impact, is particularly important to the body repairer. It is used to identify the sequence and direction in which the damage occurred and consequently the reverse sequence to be followed for the repair. In order to make an alignment check of a mono-constructed underbody, the first step is to assess the extent of the damage, the probable amount of force involved which caused it and the direction of that force. The determining factor when deciding whether to repair or replace lies in the comparison between the cost of repairing the damaged part as against the cost of a new replacement part.
