Quarter Panel Repair in Fontana, CA

What Is Quarter Panel Repair?

Quarter panel repair is the repair of the rear side panel of a car, the one that runs from the back door to the taillight and wraps around the rear wheel. Unlike a door or a front fender, the quarter panel is not bolted on. It is welded into the body and helps hold the roof, the trunk opening and the rear structure in shape.

That makes the work different from other panel repairs. At Royal Collision Center the choice is to repair the panel, replace a section of it or replace it whole, following the vehicle maker's repair procedure. Then the seams are sealed and the panel is refinished to match.

Why Quarter Panel Repair Matters in Fontana, CA

Quarter panels get hit from the side and from behind, in the parking lots and the busy lanes of Foothill Blvd, Sierra Avenue and the freeways around Fontana. Because they are welded on, a hit there often reaches the inner structure. What looks like a dent can move the wheel opening or the trunk opening.

A poor repair here is hard to hide and hard to undo. Cutting the panel in the wrong place weakens the structure, and seams that are not sealed let water into the trunk. Doing it to the maker's procedure keeps the car's strength and value.

When to Consider Quarter Panel Repair in Fontana, CA

Bring the car in after any hit to the rear side, from a scrape in a lot to a hit at the rear wheel. Check whether the trunk or hatch still closes evenly. An uneven gap is a sign the panel moved more than it seems.

Do not leave cracked paint on a creased quarter panel. Water gets under it and the damage spreads. A repair done early is often smaller.

Signs You Need Quarter Panel Repair

These signs point to quarter panel damage:

How Our Quarter Panel Repair Works

Every quarter panel repair follows the same steps:

• Step 1: Call (909) 347-6911 or request a quote online.
• Step 2: Bring the car in for a free estimate, and we check the inner panels and the trunk and wheel openings.
• Step 3: We explain whether the panel can be repaired, sectioned or replaced before any work begins.
• Step 4: Once you approve, we repair the panel, seal and refinish it and get you back on the road.

Repairing a Dented Quarter Panel

When the metal is dented but not stretched or torn, the panel can be repaired in place. We work the dent out from behind where the inner panels allow access, then finish the surface and refinish it. Small dents with unbroken paint may suit paintless repair instead.

A repair keeps the factory panel and its seams. That is often the best result when the damage allows it. We tell you honestly when it does not.

Sectioning or Full Replacement

A panel with a deep crease, a tear or damage at the wheel opening is replaced, in part or whole. Sectioning replaces only the damaged part, joined at a point the maker approves. Full replacement removes the old panel at its factory seams.

Either way, the new metal is welded and bonded as the maker's procedure calls for, with our welding machines on site. The seams are sealed and corrosion protection is restored inside. Our Unibody Repair page explains how this fits the car's structure.

Matching the Paint Around the Panel

A new or repaired quarter panel sits between the rear door, the roof and the bumper, so a color difference shows at once. We match the paint to your car and blend it into the panels around it. Our Factory Color Matching page explains how.

The panel is refinished in our spray booths, then sanded and polished to match the factory gloss. The gaps to the door, the trunk and the lamps are checked last. It should look like it was never touched.

Why Fontana Customers Choose Royal Collision Center

Our facility is I-CAR certified, so our team is trained in current collision repair methods such as sectioning and welding. We have served drivers since 1993, with welding machines, a Chief measuring system and spray booths on site. Every collision and body repair is backed by our Lifetime Warranty.

We work with all insurance companies and coordinate directly with your adjuster. Towing, on-site car rentals and customer and car drop-offs and pick-ups keep you moving. Hablamos Español.