Anyone done any PDR - Paintless Dent Removal

[Kennah]

Bought a used 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. 161K miles. Needed steering gear, transmission service, tires, struts and shocks. Leaks oil, but it's a Dodge. Doesn't leak as much as my 2005 Saturn Relay did. Couple of things I can do over time to slow the leaking.

It has a few small dents, and one reasonably large one on the lift gate. Lift gate opens, closes, and seals just fine.

I took it to a local body shop I trust that's done insurance work for me before. $4K. About what I expected. Guy gave me some "insider" help saying here, on the estimate, this is the source of the used lift gate (off a silver Chrysler T&C), and $395 is my price, so you might be able to get it cheaper. And if you're handy, replacing it is relatively easy. All true. And I appreciate that DIY help.

Silver Dodge Caravan versus silver Chrysler T&C might not be the same silver, especially if it's different model years.

Talked to a friend about body hammering it myself. He helped me get the trim panel off to see the lift gate is double-walled with no access hole so unless I cut a sizable hole on the inside, then I cannot get to the dent with a body hammer.

That took me to PDR. Basically, hot glue a plastic tab to the dent, and use a slide hammer with a slot to grab the tab. There are some other tools, but same principle of hot gluing (with special PDR glue sticks). Cool innovation since the last time I did slide hammer work to a beater car.

The YouTube videos make it seem magical, and I'm sure those folks have done it a LOT, and probably wrong a LOT, before they ever got to where they could make a decent YouTube video.

I figure I cannot screw it up too badly, and if I do then I go buy a used lift gate and get my friend to help replace it.

Curious if anyone has had success with PDR the first time?

[captain queeg]

1. Is PDR a brand? I've pulled a couple dents with the suction cups.

It works fine on small dents in a large area where there are no bends. If the sheet metal has some kind of backing of decorative bends it doesn’t work. I just did a couple with a small device I bought at the auto parts store. They make bigger ones for the pros.

[gibraltar72]

2. Watched as a PDR specialist did

dent removal on my dads car. Those guys are magicians. I see specialist on dealers lots all the time doing PDR Usually in the far back corner of lot, so people don't see. The tools that they use can catch every nook and cranny. I did some bodywork years ago. They just amaze me.

[MOMFUDSKI]

4. I worked at a Mercedes dealership in the 90's

and there was a guy who worked for himself that would show up to repair dents. He had every weird tooly thingy you could imagine and then some. A magic man. I would watch him during my break. Real nice guy. He bought all of his employees a very expensive pair of shoes like the ones he wore for work. He seemed to WILL those dents away.

[appleannie1]

3. My F I L , my hubby and my son have all used suction cups to pull out dents too.

[mitch96]

5. I have had it done to a few cars. Usually just before I've sold them. Amazing how they do it.

The first time I had it done was a by a guy who worked on high end sports cars.. He would access the back of the dent and use polished stainless steel rods to work the steel till it had a slight crown and then would use a soft hammer to make it level. No paint work required. He did a good bit of time but it was always flawless. If he could not get to the back of the dent he would drill a hole on the inside and get to it with his magic rods. Then put. a very professional cap over the hole and it looked like a "factory" item. He could not do anything with a crease in it though.
Over the years the prices went up and I think the last time was about $100 for two small (quarter and half dollar) size dents. Well worth the price considering what it would cost to have the panel painted.
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[JohnnyRingo]

6. I've seem the results on a buddy's truck. I say try it.

They have tools that can go through a small access hole and hammer it out from behind. Like it never even happened.

But there is one issue. If it's dented in too far it stretches the metal. Then if it's pounded out it will "oil can" as it bulges outward. A pro will use heat and a shrinking hammer on the outside and a dolly on the inside to get the surface flat again. Unfortunately, that means it needs repainted.