1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Roof rack hit in parking lot. Roof has dents. How do i fix?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Cadmus, Jul 7, 2018.

  1. Jul 7, 2018 at 7:41 AM
    #21
    Cadmus

    Cadmus [OP] Un-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Member:
    #160299
    Messages:
    426
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Collins CO USA
    Vehicle:
    '04 4door 4x4 TDRoffroad
    That truck is my baby

    Exactly why i asked the original questions of feasibility, possible cost and access to repair it in the first post. If i can access it I will fix it today by myself. That is the point of this website.
     
    AddicTioN likes this.
  2. Jul 7, 2018 at 8:10 AM
    #22
    1997tacomav6

    1997tacomav6 V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger,Haltech, 800k

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Member:
    #113940
    Messages:
    10,386
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    97 reg cab, v6 5sp 300hp supercharged, Methonal Injection, 800,001 plus miles, Original Owner
    V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger, 56mm pulley, methanol injected Haltech ECU, AC Tvs1320 supercharger,(MUST DO) every 125,000- 150,000 needs rebuild Projector headlights HID 5 speed manual Amsoil for all drive train Smaller 56mm custom pulley, (MUST DO) 2004 DESNO fuel injectors, zero ping ping, 2004 side door mirrors Dick Cepek Rims, Michelin tires LTX, ATM Pathfinders Dynopro ATM ( that last 100,000 miles) Now running Dynopro ATM mud and snow tires KN cold air intake Cat back dual exhaust with ss exhaust tip, Raised exhaust tail pipe to 2" below body line Optima*dry cell battery,red top Alpine sirius radio, 200 watt amp, focal is165 split door pod speakers Focal door speakers Subwoffer behind seat Viper alarm, Electric Locks Dark tinted windows, bucket seats corbeau lg1 Tacoma Rubber floor mats TRD fender extenders, Bilstien shocks, King shocks JBA UCA trailer iv hitch, electric brake control, Drilled slotted brakes, High carbon steel (MUST DO) EBS green stuff 7000 series pads(MUST DO) TRD engine oil cap TRD stick shift, Marlin crawl shift kit. Rear sliding window 2002 4Runner functional hood scoop cut into Tacoma hood, 4Runner dual overhead map light Gentex Auto dim + Compass + Temp, garage,rearview mirror Snow Methonal kit stage 2 Custom 3 core aluminum radiator Linex bed liner Haltech stand alone ECU, Intake supercharger gauge. Stainless steel brake lines, Custom leather wrapped steering wheel, Haltech stand-alone ECU,
    Im pretty sure your year headliner is easy to remove and you can get access to all the dents if it's an early Tacoma like mine it's an actual vinyl headliner and is really hard to deal with cuz it's not a solid piece where yours is a solid piece I believe
     
  3. Jul 7, 2018 at 9:17 AM
    #23
    Cadmus

    Cadmus [OP] Un-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Member:
    #160299
    Messages:
    426
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Collins CO USA
    Vehicle:
    '04 4door 4x4 TDRoffroad
    2004.
    Looks to be a solid unit.

    Is this glued to the roof metal? or is it free of the metal held with screws or automotive push porcupine things. If the former i am weary. I recall several old cars (like late 80's early 90s) where the headliner was mostly foam and it never was the same as before i started tinkering.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2018
  4. Jul 7, 2018 at 10:25 AM
    #24
    skeezix

    skeezix Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45512
    Messages:
    2,326
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    1998 Limited
    1. I think I viewed a video that Timmah the Toolman made. The video showed how he removed the headliner, but it was for a 4Runner, not a truck. You might want to check out this link:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVJW0XM2x24&t=0s&index=22&list=UU9EMiD9KPy61kJ6hdXcbjxA


    2. I have not the foggiest idea what could have caused your damage. To get some reliable opinions on repair costs I would call the insurance company, tell them what happened, and see which shops they do business with. Then take the truck to those shops, and to at least 3 other shops that do real body work, not just a "painless dent repair", to get estimates. At least you will know what it might cost you, and I'm thinking somewhere around $1,500. I'm not absolutely sure if that big dent above and behind the rear door can be pulled out without removing the headliner, but I kinda think that it can.

    As I read through your posts, I can feel your sadness. Nobody needs that kind of grief. I've had my truck (1998 Limited) for 21 years now and I know that it would just not feel right to drive it with that kind of damage. Sorry it happened. And as for those negative comments from others who visit this forum, they'll get theirs too, if they haven't already. What goes around, comes around.
     
  5. Jul 7, 2018 at 10:28 AM
    #25
    TACOVRD

    TACOVRD I Identify As A Prius

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2015
    Member:
    #159264
    Messages:
    6,437
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    TW Addict
    AZ/WA
    Vehicle:
    2019 T4R ORP - Formerly 2013 DCSB OR Spruce Mica
    Workin' on it....
    Right!!??
     
  6. Jul 7, 2018 at 2:08 PM
    #26
    Cadmus

    Cadmus [OP] Un-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Member:
    #160299
    Messages:
    426
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Collins CO USA
    Vehicle:
    '04 4door 4x4 TDRoffroad
    20180707_120759.jpg 20180707_121625.jpg

    No clue what the automotive grade calk is. All i have is this automotive goop. That crack is not metal cracking, just metal bending. I hope. So plan is to fill it with goop and bent it back with channel locks unless someone say that makes life hell for a body shop in the spring.
     
  7. Jul 7, 2018 at 2:13 PM
    #27
    SkunkMan17

    SkunkMan17 Jerry-rigging everything

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2018
    Member:
    #257917
    Messages:
    1,054
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Owen
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    1997 Tacoma RC 4x4
    Tasteful modifications :)
    did you try to use a plunger yet? that has worked for me in the past. put the plunger on the dent (stick it) and then pull.

    If that doesnt work, try a mallet. from the inside. hammer out the dent on the inside, then go from there.

    if none of those work, i guess bondo is an option, lol
     
  8. Jul 7, 2018 at 4:40 PM
    #28
    Cadmus

    Cadmus [OP] Un-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Member:
    #160299
    Messages:
    426
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Collins CO USA
    Vehicle:
    '04 4door 4x4 TDRoffroad
    I think it is Too small for the plunger, SkunkMan17. But Thanks, i will look into it. I think one would have to weld to it and pull it out.
    Yes hammering from inside was the goal today. I think that normaly ends up best. But i could not confirm it is was double walled there or not. If i take it to a shop i would rather they pound or weld and pull it best they can and not bondo. Fill, in my LIMITED experience, doesnt last as long as paint on metal even when crumpled. But i might be wrong.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2018
  9. Jul 8, 2018 at 4:28 AM
    #29
    kite_325

    kite_325 A simple human, being

    Joined:
    May 4, 2017
    Member:
    #218142
    Messages:
    1,726
    Gender:
    Male
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRDOR
    Dang, well, besides all the negative comments, keep us posted on if you were able to do a fix yourself or if it ended up being a shop job :thumbsup:
     
  10. Jul 8, 2018 at 4:56 AM
    #30
    loginfailed

    loginfailed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195923
    Messages:
    5,156
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dwayne
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2014 DCSB 4WD
    PDR guys will use a combination of pushing from the inside and pulling with glue tabs from the outside.

    I had a car a while back that got hit with some light hail and was able to get it in satisfactory condition by myself. Watched some YouTube vids, talked to a couple friends that are in the PDR business for tips.

    The tools that I bought cost WAY more than having a PDR guy do it, but I got the satisfaction of doing it myself and now I have another set of tools in my arsenal.

    This is the main set I used:
    https://www.dentcrafttools.com/hail-compliment-set.html

    Glue pulling stuff:
    https://www.dentcrafttools.com/dentcraft-glue-kit.html
    https://www.dentcrafttools.com/hot-glue-gun-110v-large.html
    https://www.dentcrafttools.com/t-handle-puller.html
    https://www.dentcrafttools.com/aluminum-slide-hammer.html
     
    Cadmus[OP] likes this.
  11. Jul 8, 2018 at 9:06 PM
    #31
    Seagull233

    Seagull233 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2017
    Member:
    #218149
    Messages:
    1,991
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    Upstate New York
    Vehicle:
    2004 DC 4x4 V6
    BMW seats, OME Suspension, CBI and NWTI plates front and rear, 13,000 winch, LED light bars, Ham Radio, topper with roof rack added, stainless exhaust, 2nd battery, inverter, sound deadener
    Your headliner is removable, but it will require removing much of the plastics that go up and support it, along with the dome light and map light/mirror fixture. I also imagine that you would need to remove the seats, in order to have room to maneuver it out. I had mine out last year, while in the process of soundproofing my '04 DC. I can't imagine that you would not have nearly all of the plastics on the door posts, etc. out, and most would require removing seats belts and such as well. Don't hold me to this, but it runs in my mind that for the most part, there were not a lot of structural re-enforcements. I only recall one, were the dome light is, going side to side, but wasn't really looking for them.
     
    Cadmus[OP] likes this.
  12. Jul 10, 2018 at 9:06 PM
    #32
    Cadmus

    Cadmus [OP] Un-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Member:
    #160299
    Messages:
    426
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Collins CO USA
    Vehicle:
    '04 4door 4x4 TDRoffroad
    This was intimidating and informative. Thank you. I hate that interior work. But the "Don't hold me to this, but it runs in my mind that for the most part, there were not a lot of structural re-enforcements. I only recall one, were the dome light is, going side to side, but wasn't really looking for them" comment is promising if it comes to that. Thanks for this!!!!! it helps.

    I didnt realize it could be done with hot glue.... I have seen it done with tack welds.... Thanks for this.
     
    loginfailed[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Jul 11, 2018 at 2:23 AM
    #33
    loginfailed

    loginfailed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195923
    Messages:
    5,156
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dwayne
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2014 DCSB 4WD
    Wether or not glue pulling works depends on how much tension the dent is under. There’s also the possibility the dent can be pulled too far, but in that case, there are knock down tools to get the metal to go back in some.

    https://www.dentcrafttools.com/knockdowns-hmrs.html
     

Products Discussed in

To Top