Can Paintless Dent Repair Fix Creases?
Often, yes. A crease is a dent with a sharp fold in it instead of a round, soft push. Creases are harder than round dents because the metal has been folded and stretched along a line, but many of them can still be repaired with paintless dent repair (PDR) as long as the paint is not broken. Here is what we have learned from creases in our own files.
Creases we have repaired
- 2014 GMC Terrain. An 8 to 10 inch crease in the passenger rear quarter.
- 2013 Dodge Journey. Creases of 12 to 16 inches in the hood, two of them close enough to look like one large dent.
- 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. A 2 inch crease in an aluminum hood.
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450. A creased dent in an aluminum rear quarter with no paint chip, so the original paint stayed.
- 2014 Dodge Ram 1500. A bedside crease, reached through the rear tire well.
What makes a crease repairable
- The paint. If the paint is chipped or cracked, the panel needs paint work no matter how well the metal is moved (see our more information page).
- How sharp and deep it is. A deep, tight fold stretches the metal more, and stretched metal is harder to bring back.
- Access. Tools need to reach behind the crease, through access holes, a tire well, or by removing trim.
- Where it is. Creases that run into a body line, pillar or panel edge take more work.
Glue pulling when there is no access
When tools can’t reach behind a crease without removing and reinstalling parts (R&I), glue pulling is another option. On the GMC Terrain, the customer chose the glue pull process to avoid the R&I expense, knowing there was “a possibility of slight microscopic flaws in the finished product.” In that case the repair “came out great.” It is a trade-off we talk through with you before we start. The PDR language page explains R&I and other estimate terms.
When a crease is too far gone
Some creases are close calls. On a 2015 Chrysler 300 with a very deep pillar crease, the write-up says plainly: “I did not promise perfection.” The paint was compromised deep inside the crease and needed touch-up, but the pillar was saved from a body shop. On a 2015 Ford Explorer rear gate the paint was already damaged, so the dents were pushed to paint (P2P) and the gate then went to a body shop. The original gate was saved.
Aluminum creases
Aluminum hoods and panels can crease too, as the Grand Cherokee and GL450 show. Aluminum takes more care than steel. Read more on aluminum panel dent repair.
How to get a straight answer
Photos help, but a crease is best judged in person on a clean car, indoors, under PDR lighting, which is how our estimating guideline says it should be done. Please don’t try to tap a crease out at home first. Our do-it-yourself warning explains why. Drive in to either shop and we will tell you what we see. Find us on Services & Areas.
See also our body line dent repair guide.
In-shop repairs only. We don’t offer mobile service. Drive-in customers are welcome at either shop during its open days.
Get an estimate
Call 217-306-4175, email 217Dent@gmail.com, or send us the details on our contact page. Estimates are free. We bring more than 30 years of paintless dent repair experience to every estimate.
In-shop repairs only. We don’t offer mobile service. Drive-in customers are welcome at either shop.
- Springfield: 550 North Street, Suite 2, Springfield, IL 62704. Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 to 5:00.
- Lincoln: 2009 N. Kickapoo St, Lincoln, IL 62656. Thursday to Saturday, 9:00 to 5:00.
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