Had a customer bring in a 2018 F-150 with a dent right on the body line above the wheel arch

Dakota Sanchez · 2026-03-11T05:50:05.566642+00:00

Last week at the shop, this truck came in with a pretty sharp crease. I tried the usual PDR methods first, but the metal was just too stiff. Ended up having to drill a small hole for a puller, which I hate doing. What's your go-to method for a tough dent on a modern truck's body line?

uma4097mo ago

Ever tried a stud welder first?

10

river_nelson857mo ago

Those modern truck panels are a pain. Sometimes you just have to get behind it with a long bar and work the crease out slowly.

2

thomas.tyler7mo ago

Oh, the classic "drill a hole and pray" method. My favorite. Nothing says quality repair like making a new problem to fix the old one. I usually try every glue pull and slide hammer trick in the book first. On those trucks, I've had some luck with a low-profile bridge and a lot of heat, working it millimeter by millimeter. It's a slow, annoying dance, but it beats explaining a new hole to a customer.

2