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Collision shop suspects structural damage. What am I looking for? 1996 Accord.
Here's the one picture I have, taken after the accident. The collision shop estimates $3100, which is more than the insurance is willing to pay, so I guess I have to take it home and work on it myself if I can. I know I can replace the front bumper cover, the beam, the shock absorber, but I don't know what structure could be damaged or how I can even tell once I get it unbolted. What should I be looking for? I'll post more photos once I get the car back and the bumper taken off, I just wanted some idea of what I might be in for. Something is pressing in on the wheel wheel on side of the crash, but I don't know what it's even called - the service manual doesn't show that section of the car. I was able to drive it home, it drove ok except for something in the wheel well rubbing.
Re: Collision shop suspects structural damage. What am I looking for? 1996 Accord.
Not really easy to guesstimate what may be damaged from that single shot but from the look it does appear to be just cosmetic. Everything else, that can be seen, seems to be fairly square which is a good sign of no serious chassis damage.
A big chunk of the cost is the bumper, hood and paint. If the hood wasn't damaged it may not have pushed the cost over.
As for the rubbing, its most likely the inner fender rubbing on the tire. It is part of the undertray and the inner fender, with the damage to the bumper cover and tweaked fender it has lost its structural support.